Our HNC Electrical Engineering provides learning for the next steps in progressing within the diverse Engineering industry. The Engineering sector is key to Scotland’s economy, accounting for over 150,000 jobs according to Skills Development Scotland and incorporating a wide range of growing sectors including aerospace; manufacturing; electrical power; renewable energies, engineering maintenance, engineering design and process engineering to name a few.
Graduates from this course have gone on to exciting roles within industry from technicians, Commissioning engineers, design engineers, electrical engineers, inspectors, technical authors for a range of sector leading organisations.
We have a close partnership with SECTT who manage the industry approved training scheme for Electrical apprenticeships in Scotland on behalf of the Scottish Joint Industry Board, to provide the electrotechnical industry with the skilled people it needs to build the workforce of the future. SECTT and the College are united in their ambition to empower early-career electricians with the education that will make them successful in their future careers.
The HNC which can be studied on day release alongside employment commitments enhances future engineers skillsets to include three phase systems, electrical safety, maths, Application of Electrical and Electronic Instruments and more. We caught up with a few of our HNC graduates to find out how they are putting their skills learned at West into practice in industry:
Kieran McColgan, 23 studied his HNC with us 2021 On completing his apprenticeship he progressed to working with Hitachi on a HVDC converter station for a new onshore windfarm on Shetland Islands. His work will see him travel even further afield next month when he goes to Germany for the second phase of a BP control and instrumentation project.
Speaking of his College experience Keiran said,
“The HNC really helped me understand HV power distribution and all the components that come with it including harmonics filters, transformers, generators, converting AC to DC. It’s also helped in my control application with the education I’ve had on CTs, VTs, relays, metering, motors, testing and understanding important factors such as emf.”
He continued, “I’d recommend the HNC to any electrician who wants to better their career and open as many opportunities they can for themself. Doing my HNC during my apprenticeship is by far one of the best things I’ve done and it’s gave me a head start from a young age.”
Calum Smith, 20 is now an Apprentice Electrician with Forth Valley Electrical Services is completing his HNC in 2023 to further his career. He said,
“My electrical knowledge background helped when doing units on power systems. It's a good course and qualification to have to fall back on if something happens on site.”
With dreams of moving to Australia one day to utilise his skills overseas, Calum shared his advice for potential students, “Study as much as possible
this course is really hard if you don't!”
Daniel MacVicar 23 is now working in Domestic Electrical Engineering and Renewables focusing on Solar PV and Heat Pumps. With renewables providing the vast majority of Scotland’s electricity, Heat Pumps can also cut a typical Scottish home’s annual carbon emissions by up to 90%.
He completed the HNC to further his education and skillset in his career going forward. He said, “The course relates to many things I have done throughout my apprenticeship which helped. I would recommend the course because it gives you a greater understanding of all the components surrounding the electrical industry. Although I found the Physics and Maths parts of the course very challenging, my classmates and lecturers were always there for help.”
Engineer your future now with our HNC Electrical Engineering – open for application for this August!