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Tech Talks
PODCAST
EPISODES
Episode 1 - Tech Talks with Proterra Energy and MacDonald Project Solutions
In this episode, Terry Stebbings from Proterra Energy and Peter MacDonald from MacDonald Project Solutions, both engineering businesses.
Craig chats to Peter and Terry about how they brought new talent into their businesses through a subsidised 12-week work placement during 2020 and 2021. Find out what made them decide to take on a student and how the projects delivered during the placements gave their businesses a real boost.
Episode 3 - Tech Talks with Pure Water International
In this episode Craig speaks to David Maclennan, director of Pure Water International (PWI). David hired two University of Strathclyde graduates to test and develop a prototype created by the company to remove chemicals, medication, plastic fibres, and polluted substances from water.
Hear from David about how, after only six months in post, the graduates have already demonstrated an incredible ability to design, draw and prototype a new water purification solution, speeding up time to market by 18 months.
David and Craig discuss how the benefit of technology placements goes both ways: the business benefits from fresh thinking and new skills at a reduced cost; and the graduates get to work on a wide variety of tasks and have more input than they would in a typical graduate scheme. They agree that having no previous industry experience can even be a bonus, as Orrin and Scott (the graduates) came with no preconceived ideas.
Tech Talks
Hear from business owners across the Highlands and Islands who have employed graduates and students through our Technology Placement Programme. This podcast series is hosted by Craig Steele, a computer scientist, published author, and creative technologist who loves nothing more than talking about anything digital or techy.