Supporting our colleagues and charities during COVID-19 – UTC Reading

We’re continuing to support colleagues who are involved in community-based organisations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Trainee Power Systems Engineer Ruth Canning nominated Universal Technical College Reading. UTC is a college that delivers computer science and engineering excellence for 14-19 year olds in Reading.

The school aims to educate and train the next generation of technicians, engineers and industrial innovators – helping them gain the confidence and skills to develop exciting careers in their chosen area.

Ruth has close links to UTC:

“My brother is studying at UTC and is their student president. He was helping with a joint UTC effort to make masks using his own 3D printer. The team making the masks had posted a fundraising initiative to fund more materials at the same time I got the email about the ESO community fund.”

COVID-19

At the start of the coronavirus outbreak they decided to try and help the local community by using their 3D printers and expertise to produce PPE face masks for local NHS services. They are producing as many face masks as they possibly can.

The overwhelming quantities required from all fields of key workers means they currently having to be manufacturing constantly and require more materials. The image below is an NHS Doctor wearing one of the first masks that was manufactured by UTC.

We’re proud to support UTC and our donation is being used to buy filament for 3D printers along with clear plastic sheets and elastic for head bands. UTC have also been able to purchase a new 3D printer.

The funding is allowing them to make more face shields to donate across the local community.

Neil Pouney, Vice Principle, added:

“We would like to donate as many shields as possible to help protect the local doctors and nurses who are putting themselves at risk to help us. Each face masks we can donate they will help keep the NHS force strong and safe to continue the fight against the virus. The bonus is that this work be able to benefit the students going forward along with us protecting key workers.”