Engineering and Automotive

Neath College | Pontardawe College | Brecon Beacons College | Newtown College

5 Reasons to choose NPTC Group of Colleges

  • Strong links with local, regional and national employers
  • Great progression opportunities to University and Excellent Apprenticeship programmes
  • Fantastic state-of-the-art Engineering facilities
  • Courses matched to industry standards to meet skills needed
  • One of the most in-demand, growing sectors of industry

Engineering is an exciting field with broad career opportunities. Our courses enable students to develop the skills and knowledge needed to progress into employment or Higher Education.

Whichever discipline you choose, building a strong foundation of knowledge with an Engineering Study Programme at NPTC Group of Colleges can start you out in a journey to success.

In addition to this engineering qualification, you will gain employability skills which include, English, Maths & IT, personal learning skills and social and community skills.

Furthermore, our close relationship with the industry ensures that we are up to date in the latest technological advances. In sum, our aim is to give students the very best training.

The School of Engineering

The Engineering department offers disciplines in Mechanical, Maintenance, Fabrication and Welding, Hydraulics and Pneumatics, Electronics, Automotive, Vehicle body, and Repair and Refinishing.

Equally, the department provides full- and part-time programmes of study, designed to meet the needs of employers within Wales, the UK and overseas.

Even more, all qualifications offered are nationally recognised which will enhance students’ employment opportunities within their chosen discipline.

The professional and qualified staff deliver excellent teaching to ensure that all students have the best chance to adapt their skills and qualifications.

Mechanical/Maintenance Engineering

College Delivery: Neath College / Newtown College

Mechanical and Maintenance engineering involves many different routes that involve analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems.

Moreover, these principles are used by Mechanical and Maintenance engineers in the design and analysis of specialist components in multiple sectors.

As a result, students will develop a solid understanding of these key concepts.

Facilities

Our purpose-built workshops and classrooms house state-of-the-art engineering equipment and computers.

More specifically, our workshops contain manual lathes, milling machines, and engineering benches, while separate specialized workshops and classrooms contain Haas advanced (CNC) Computer Numerical Controlled machines in both Milling and Turning.

We also provide Computer-controlled numerical machines in Milling and Turning. Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and 3D printing technology.

In addition, our Hydraulics and Pneumatics/Electro-Pneumatics workshop provides many vital test rigs. These apparatus are essential in assessing the capability and performance of components for industrial use.

 

Fabrication and Welding

Colleges delivered: Neath College / Newtown College

The welding and fabrication industry involves employment in areas such as energy, oil and gas, engineering maintenance and industrial manufacture, which are all accessible with a qualification in this discipline.

Our highly skilled lecturers will support and guide you through the basics of this industry.

On completion, students will understand how welding integrates into an engineering system.

Facilities

Our purpose-built fabrication and welding workshops house high-quality equipment, covering all aspects of welding applications.

In particular, these include Metal Inert Gas (MIG), Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG), Manual Metal Arc (MMA), and Destructive and Non-destructive testing (DT/NDT) CNC Plasma machine.

Electronics

Colleges delivered: Neath

More significantly, the knowledge gained from studying this course will enable progression into associated electronic/electrical services.

Facilities

We provide Electronic and Electrical laboratories, classrooms, and computer rooms that contain high tech resources to support all students in this discipline.

Higher Education

Colleges delivered: Neath College / Newtown College

The Engineering department offers Higher Education programmes such as HNC/HND with specific entry requirements for each level.

To be considered, applicants will need to demonstrate a commitment to study and will be interviewed for suitability by the Course Coordinator.

Academic Excellence

The School of Engineering offers programmes of study that can aid students’ progression into Apprenticeships or University. They will commence at entry-level right through to Higher Education HNC/HND.

As well as being the college of choice for Modern Apprenticeship delivery, we carry out bespoke training and curriculum development at the company’s headquarters, with our flexible nature, we can adapt to a company’s evolutionary needs.

In effect, the Engineering Department has been successful in the Welsh and World Skills competitions.

As a result, all areas of Engineering are fully represented in these competitions.

Follow the School of Engineering on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook

Motor Vehicle Academy & Vehicle Body and Repair and Refinishing

Automotive Engineering (Motor Vehicle)

Colleges delivered: Pontardawe College / Brecon Beacons College / Newtown College

Certainly, employment in automotive engineering will involve working in garages, transport companies, road haulage companies or large organisations with fleets of vehicles.

At a technician level, you will perform skilled diagnostic work, including work on electronic and computer-controlled systems.

In summary, the work is challenging, logical, and will involve a lot of problem-solving.

Facilities

The Automotive Academy department operates a prestigious Motor Vehicle Academy, which is sponsored and promoted by Snap-On Tools

Vehicle Body and Repair and Refinishing

Colleges delivered: Pontardawe College

In particular, employment opportunities can range from garages, body shops and the motorsport industry which specialise in the repair of vehicles after accident damage.

The skills involved in body repair and refinishing can vary from sectioning panels to valeting, MIG welding and rectifying paint defects.

For that reason, we offer both Pre-Apprentice programmes (full time) and Apprenticeship Programmes.

The Apprenticeship programme includes both day release (theory) and practical block release sessions.

We have recently launched a new vehicle body repair workshop at Pontardawe College with a state-of-the-art spray booth with a paint mixing room, wheel refurbishment booth, and a high-intensity heating bay.

The future is here! Fly high with us at our brand new Drone Academy at Neath College

Follow the Motor Vehicle Academy on Twitter and Facebook

Courses
Level 1 Automotive Engineering (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 1 Engineering (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 1 Vehicle Body Repair IMI (Body) (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 2 Advanced Manufacturing (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 2 Automotive Engineering (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 2 Engineering (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 2 Enhanced Engineering Learning Programme (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 2 Fabrication & Welding (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 2 Vehicle Body Repair IMI (Body) (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 3 Automotive Engineering (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 3 Diploma Advanced Manufacturing (Progression) Engineering Technology – EAL (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 3 Diploma in Engineering – BTEC (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 3 Fabrication and Welding (Full-Time) - Further Education
Level 1 Award in Parametric Modelling (Computer Aided Design) (Part-Time) - Further Education
Level 1 Award in Welding (Part-Time: Evening) - Further Education
Level 1 Introduction to Workshop Skills (Part-Time) January Start - Further Education
Level 2 Award in Electric/Hybrid Vehicle Repair (Part-Time) - Further Education
Level 2 Award in Welding Skills (Part-Time: Evening) - Further Education
Level 2 Performing Engineering Operations (Part-Time) - Further Education
Level 3 Advanced Skills in Welding C&G (Part-Time: Evening) - Further Education
Level 3 National Diploma in Engineering (Part-Time) - Further Education
Level 4 Engineering HNC (Part-Time) - Higher Education & Degrees
MOT CPD Annual Training and Assessment (Part-Time) - Further Education