(Above) North Lanarkshire students with MRP team members

Over 20 young people got the chance to learn about engineering at the latest Summer School run by the project to create the new University Hospital Monklands.

The Monklands Replacement Project (MRP) welcomed school students from North and South Lanarkshire for a week of classes, based on the engineering plans for the new hospital, set to open in 2031 at Wester Moffat, Airdrie.

It was the MRP’s third Summer School and the biggest yet – with new academic accreditation and so many participants that classes had to be held in both mornings and afternoons.

MRP partners Wallace Whittle, an environmental building services company, hosted the school at the MRP Immersive Suite, a digital learning and engagement centre at the existing University Hospital Monklands in Airdrie.

(Above) South Lanarkshire students with MRP team members

Lesley Aitken, MRP Community Benefits Engagement Lead, said:

“Each day of the week covered a different topic, including sustainability, ventilation, heating, water services and the latest digital design tools. The young people really enjoyed exploring these subjects with over a dozen members of the Wallace Whittle team.

“This year we worked with New College Lanarkshire to offer our attendees some form of academic accreditation to mark their efforts. It’s a really good progression for the project and means the young people will be able to refer to it in any future applications for academic or employment opportunities.

“Thanks must also go to education colleagues, including Developing the Young Workforce in Lanarkshire, principal teachers and school careers advisors.”

(Above) North Lanarkshire students in class

Paul Cooper, Project Director for Wallace Whittle’s work with the MRP, added:

“We were focusing on what’s known as building services engineering, which covers mechanical, electrical, public health and sustainability engineering. We spent the week showing the students what the opportunities are within the industry and how they could get into it.

“They worked really hard. The hope was that we would inspire as many as we could into some form of engineering and the feedback we’ve got is that many are considering that.”

The event was spearheaded by the MRP’s Community Benefits programme, which includes skills training, apprenticeships and job opportunities.

Summer School also reflects NHS Lanarkshire’s work as an anchor organisation – a large, local employer that can have a strong and positive influence on the health and wellbeing of its communities.

(Above) South Lanarkshire students in class

The week was rounded off with the pupils giving presentations in front of an audience of MRP team members and guests including Martin Hill, Chair of the Board of NHS Lanarkshire, and Public Health Consultant Elspeth Russell, who leads on the anchor organisation programme.

The students who took part are pupils at: Brannock High; Calderside Academy; Caldervale High; Carluke High; Coatbridge High; Duncanrig High; Greenfaulds High; Holy Cross High; Larkhall Academy; Lesmahagow High; Our Lady’s High School; StAmbrose High; Strathaven Academy; Trinity High; Uddingston Grammar.

Comments from some of the students

Malina Korzeniowska, St Ambrose High, Coatbridge, returned to Summer School for a second year. She said:

“I came back because I realised that I want to pursue a career in engineering. I wanted to attend because last year was amazing – I loved it. If I were to do engineering, it would be either civil or mechanical.”

Jamie McDuff, Our Lady’s High, Cumbernauld, said:

“I’ve always thought about engineering through my family as some of them have done engineering, so I’ve a passion for it. The mechanical and electrical engineering specifically I thought were really good. I’d highly recommend Summer School. Getting the experience and networking was really enjoyable.”

Teagan Ware, who has just left Lesmahagow High, said::

“I’ve always been interested in engineering, so I thought if I take part I’d have some accreditation and be able to find out more about the jobs in engineering. I particularly enjoyed the electrical engineering part with the fire alarms.”

Matthew Blaney, Trinity High, Rutherglen, said:

“I quite enjoyed the plumbing section. It was quite interesting to see how you size all the pipes and how it can affect things if it’s too big or too small a pipe. It was quite fun to see how you can use digital design software to go through a full building and create it with just with a click of a button.”