How Biffa and The Open University are transforming engineering careers

A growing partnership between Biffa and The Open University is tackling the engineering skills gap, offering flexible education that empowers employees to progress to more senior roles while driving retention and innovation.

“Engineering in general is a very competitive talent marketplace, let alone trying to hire individuals into the waste industry,” says Jordan Stuart, Engineering Training and Apprenticeship Manager at Biffa. “But when we grow our own talent, we build loyalty, commitment and trust.”

Where flexible learning helps

To address these challenges, Biffa partnered with The Open University (OU) to provide accessible, high-quality engineering education at undergraduate degree level. “The Open University works perfectly for those looking to advance to senior engineering roles because they have extremely busy work schedules, so it allows them to study around the work that they already have planned,” Jordan explains.

Click the subtitles icon to view subtitles, or download a Word doc transcript here.

Our engineers work in an extremely busy environment, so having that flexibility is really important for us as a business. They're able to complete the online modules and then get straight back into work, so great for everyone.

Jordan Stuart
Engineering Training and Apprenticeship Manager, Biffa

The flexibility of the online, tutor-supported model makes OU a key part of Biffa’s long-term learning strategy to move talented staff through from apprentice level, right through to director level. To facilitate the learning and support the employees in their goals, Biffa funds the education.

What The Open University offers

“The OU provides access to higher education that some people wouldn’t have received previously,” says Dr Gareth Neighbour, Senior Lecturer in Engineering at the OU. With pathways from certificates to full degrees and even master’s programmes and PhDs, the OU caters to learners at all stages. “To join The Open University, you don't need [prior] qualifications as such. We're an open access institution,” Dr Neighbour adds.

The OU is unique in being able to reach the four corners of the four nations. It's able to provide provision for areas that don't have further or higher education provision generally.

Dr Gareth Neighbour
Senior Lecturer, The Open University

Employee impact: Two success stories

For Damien O’Neill, Group Head of Engineering (Maintenance), the BSc Engineering programme is both a career move and a personal milestone: “I chose the engineering pathway predominantly because of career development and promotion opportunities, but also because I've always wanted to prove it to myself. I’m the first person in my family to reach this level of education.” Damien (who started his career at the Royal Navy) is working towards a qualification to give him the skills and qualifications to progress to more senior levels.

Mark Shaw left school at 17 to join the army. Now an Engineering Manager at Biffa, he shares similar ambitions, aiming to become a head of projects or design. “To achieve that position, I know that I need a degree,” he explained Mark.

“The support offered by Biffa has been great. From the day that I said I wanted to do the degree, Jordan, the apprenticeship and training academy manager, contacted me. And then we looked at options.”

Mark added: “You have great people in the company. I think Biffa's realised that, and is investing the time, effort and money in education and training to keep these good people on board.”