MID Cheshire College has received major recognition from a leading professional body.

The college has become the first in Cheshire to be awarded Engineering Technician status from the globally-recognised Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and is a now a fully-registered member of the highly-regarded body.

Gaining membership into this group means the college is recognised as providing the highest quality of teaching to its engineering students.

The approval also means engineering apprentices from the college are recognised worldwide and have access to a range of materials and help from IMechE.

Engineering assessor, Keith Wylie, who applied for the approval said: “The scheme will set us apart from the rest, and being the first college in Cheshire to have this approval means our engineering apprentices will be a step ahead of the rest.”

At the end of their apprenticeships students can apply for the fast track professional registration EngTech as part of the approval.

This award demonstrates professional competence for a successful career and is a globally-recognised benchmark which provides proof of the college’s standards.

Paul Tabern, business development executive for IMechE said: “The really important thing is Mid Cheshire College can demonstrate the quality of the teaching and the learning, and that their young apprentices are going to be receiving that.

“Best of all, the students can start accessing and using some of the resources and support available from the IMechE, but more importantly we can now support them in their careers straight away and give them access to everything they need to have long and successful careers.”

ImechE is the fastest growing professional engineering institution in the UK.