Ian Thompson

Experience

• 

  Coleg Menai

  Jan 2006 - Jan 2009

  Business Development Engineer

  My role involved identifying and targeting, using various networking skills, local SME’s in order to increase awareness about facilities and services the College offered to support and improve overall production. I was involved in assisting production manufacture to improve efficiency and competitiveness in the market, and encourage innovation through knowledge transfer and knowledge exploitation, to assist with product design and development with focus on design for manufacture, and advise on tooling, manufacturing processes, work holding, and fixtures towards increasing the capacity for innovation. I also developed and delivered two courses to meet and address identified needs of local industrial companies. Show less

• 

  INTERNATIONAL SAFETY COMPONENTS LIMITED

  Apr 2006 - Aug 2006

  Efficiency Engineer

  Line manager of 10 staff and responsible for overseeing the daily running of 11 Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machines. My main role was to overhaul the machine shop, reprogramme the CNC machines for optimum machining times, evaluate jigs and fixtures, 3D machining, and programming using Master CAM, product development, programming and setting of the CNC equipment, machine utilisation, optimising the usage of tools at ISC by ordering appropriate tool types. During my time at ISC I streamlined working practices and increased production by 25%.I was responsible for training setters to set tools and work holding fixtures.A major achievement was to turn around a previously failing MOD project by collaborating with contracted CAD draughtsmen to finalise workable engineering drawings, ordering appropriate materials, sub-contracting work that could not be carried out internally, and production planning. The changes I implemented resulted in a company saving in excess of £120000. Show less

• 

  Coleg Llandrillo Cymru

  Sept 2009 - Oct 2016

  Innovation Centre Manager

  My ongoing role involves identifying and targeting local SME’s to increase awareness about facilities and services our team offer, promoting the facilities for use on commercial projects and encouraging New Product Development and innovation in Welsh enterprises. I am in the process of writing and delivering a number of short courses for up skilling college and school lecturers and industrial clientsI have also ran a number of school based projects trying to encourage youngster to consider a career in Engineering. In 2012 we held the first ever Junior Welsh Robotics Championships with 13 schools from across North West Wales participating. I am currently delivering a SEMTA initiative called I aM aN Engineer project encouraging STEM subjects and promoting engineering to local 14-16 school students.I am the Skills Champion for Grŵp Llandrillo, encouraging all 10 main campuses across North West Wales to get involved in skills competitions. I also run and manage a number of engineering based Skills Competition Wales competitions.I also have a role as Bilingual champion within the college, encouraging Welsh speaker to continue their education in Welsh and promote staff to deliver bilingually.I also promote and participate in the Engineering Education Scheme Wales (EESW) project, holding the annual workshops for students to use the facilities at Llandrillo Show less

• 

  WorldSkills UK

  May 2010 - Oct 2016

  Worldskills Training Manager CNC Milling / Worldskills Chief Expert

  Twitter: @cncmillingukhttp://worldskillsuk.apprenticeships.org.uk/competitions/national-competitions/engineering/cnc-millingThis position runs alongside my college role and designed to contribute to the wellbeing of Team UK and be responsible for training apprentices ready for world-beating performances at the biennial Worldskills competitions. I identify relevant international standards for the skill preparing and advising on material for candidate selection, prepare the training and assessment materials, manage the costs and resources to deliver the appropriate training and contribute to the Worldskills framework of standards, programme design monitoring and quality development.I also write and deliver the UK National competition test projects for CNC Milling to be delivered at the UK’s largest annual skills competition The Skills Show - Show less

• 

  Llywodraeth Cymru / Welsh Government

  Sept 2014 - May 2016

  Inspiring Skills Excellence in Wales - Engineering Sector Champion

  A Welsh Government sponsored project led by Coleg Sir Gâr, it aimed to encourage participation for Welsh colleges and industries to participate in skills competitions. The role deliverables were to increase participation in UK Skills Competitions, Worldskills UK, develop competitors from economic priority areas to increase GDP per head in Wales, ensure colleges were aware to provide age eligible competitor in-line with International progression routes, develop potential international competitors by designing bespoke training plans to improve retention and medal chances and deliver masterclasses / CPD for staff and SME's in Wales Show less