Tom Dower, a Cambridge University Engineering graduate with over ten years of education leadership experience, has been appointed Principal Designate of the new UTC South Durham, due to open in September 2016.
Speaking of his appointment, the University of Sunderland’s Interim Vice Chancellor Shirley Atkinson said “With his engineering and education background, Tom is ideally suited to lead the new University Technical College in Newton Aycliffe. The University of Sunderland is sponsoring UTC South Durham as we’re committed to education and because we have a civic role to support regional economic growth. I’m confident Tom has the right skills, experience and ambition to deliver what we want the UTC to achieve for its students and the region.”
Tom Dower stated: “I am delighted to have been appointed. It is very exciting to be working with the University of Sunderland, Hitachi Rail Europe and Gestamp Tallent to provide a fantastic educational route for young people in the North East.”
Darren Cumner, representing industry-partner Hitachi Rail Europe commented: “It’s a great step forward on the UTC South Durham project to be able to welcome Tom to the team. All the partners agreed that his mix of education, engineering and project management experience made him the ideal candidate.”
After graduation Tom worked for ICI in Teesside for five years, as a chartered engineer, project manager and manufacturing consultant. A move to London then saw him leading organisational-change during four years with Gemini Consulting, working with blue-chip clients including Corus, Vodafone, Boots and Railtrack.
While in London Tom decided he wanted to share his enthusiasm for design and learning, so trained as a teacher at Goldsmith’s College before teaching in the capital for two years. After returning to his native North East Tom led Design & Technology departments in two schools to improved outcomes.
Tom was most recently Vice Principal at Northumberland’s Ashington High School, where he led teaching & learning; e-learning; timetable development and child protection. His overhaul of the learning climate quickly resulted in improved behaviour, attendance and safety.
Tom also project managed the design phase of a £3.5m expansion, allowing the school intake to increase by 450 students – creating learning spaces, curriculum strategy, staff deployment and managing additional fund-raising. He has also been a leadership consultant with other schools, presented at national conferences and developed materials for the National College of School Leadership middle leadership programme and on-line modules.
Tom continued: “The purpose of the UTC is very simple; to meet the challenges of the future we need many more talented young people coming into industry. We will provide skilled young people for employment in engineering and manufacturing. We will give every student exciting and challenging learning experiences, leading to outstanding progress and the ability to thrive in their chosen careers.
“Industry plays a critical role in economic regeneration and the skills gap identified in South Durham and the rest of the North East is a challenge I’m looking forward to having a role in overcoming. The Aycliffe Business Park employs 10,000 people and is home to over 200 advanced manufacturing businesses; the UTC is a unique opportunity for young people to explore careers in these industries and set themselves up for their futures.
“We have a worrying situation in our society. Unlike the vast majority of western countries, when we use the word ‘engineer’ too many people think about the man who comes to fix their washing machine or in greasy overalls holding a spanner. The reality is completely different. Industry needs a wide range of highly skilled young men and women; some will have great practical skills, some will be highly academic, some will be excellent project managers, some will be skilled designers and problem solvers, some will be skilled programmers.
“The prospect of working with parents to help young people to develop these skills is very exciting. There’s a lot still to achieve before we open the doors to the first students in 2016 and I’m looking forward to getting started.”
Tom lives in Durham with his family and enjoys tennis, woodwork and designing with his children.