A Newcastle school is expanding its alumni mentoring initiative through closer industry engagement, with a recent visit to subsea engineering firm DME Systems showcasing the value of business partnerships in developing future talent.
Dame Allan’s Schools has strengthened its Dame Allan’s Connect programme with a visit to the North East engineering company, as part of a wider effort to build stronger connections between education and industry.
Launched as a targeted mentoring initiative, Dame Allan’s Connect brings together pupils, recent leavers and industry professionals through discipline-focused engagement, designed to provide practical insight alongside academic study.
The latest event saw Allanian undergraduates visit DME Systems in South Tyneside for a tour of the facility, a presentation on the business and its operations, and a question-and-answer session exploring careers in engineering.
DME Systems, co-founded by Michael van Zwanenberg and Darren Coombe, specialises in the design and manufacture of subsea equipment, trenchers and control systems, operating in a highly specialised global market. The visit gave students direct exposure to the scale, complexity and application of engineering in a commercial environment.
For co-founder Mr van Zwanenberg, initiatives such as Dame Allan’s Connect play an important role in bridging the gap between education and industry.
“Much of school work is theoretical skill building. Being able to see how this is put into practice and its relevance has obvious benefits — I know I would have benefited from this during my school career,” he said.
“Young people represent the building blocks of the next economy, both in the North East and the wider country.”
He also highlighted the importance of showcasing regional capability.
“It’s important to showcase that the North East has world-leading industries and talent, and that if students wish to remain in the region, those opportunities are available to them.”
The visit was designed to give students a clearer understanding of how academic study translates into industry.
“It gives their current studies some grounding, realism and potential motivation,” Mr van Zwanenberg added.
“It also builds awareness of the companies and industries where we have significant expertise, and the types of roles available once they graduate.”
For attendees, the opportunity to engage directly with a specialist engineering business provided valuable context beyond the classroom.
George Nicholson, an Allanian now studying Mechanical Engineering at the University of Edinburgh, said:
“The most valuable part was getting a direct insight into how a specialised engineering business operates.
“It was particularly interesting to see how someone with a technical background transitioned into founding and running a successful independent business.”
Dexter Bell, an Allanian currently studying Engineering at the University of Cambridge, added:
“I found it extremely valuable to gain insight into a new industry that I do not have a great deal of knowledge about. It was also very useful to speak to experienced engineers about the skills they use in their jobs, as often much of the theory you learn in university is not applied in industry.”
Both students highlighted the value of direct engagement with industry.
“Opportunities like this are essential,” said George.
“They make a career feel more attainable by connecting what you study with what you can actually do.”
Dexter added:
“These opportunities are incredibly valuable, and I really appreciate that the school continues to support its alumni beyond leaving. The network being created is a real asset.”
From an industry perspective, the longer-term impact is equally important. Mr van Zwanenberg said:
“Young people’s experiences are heavily shaped by their immediate networks. Being able to showcase other experiences helps develop a broader understanding of business.
“In the short term, it’s valuable for the students. In the longer term, they go on to develop their own careers — whether within engineering or in leadership roles that support the sector and the wider North East economy.”
Dame Allan’s Schools, based in Fenham, plans to expand Dame Allan’s Connect across a wider range of sectors, building on a model that combines alumni engagement with direct industry access.
Katherine Leonard, Development Manager at Dame Allan’s Schools, said:
“We want Dame Allan’s Connect to continue growing in a way that gives our pupils and alumni meaningful, relevant opportunities to engage with industry.
“Visits like this are an important part of that — helping to strengthen the connection between education and the workplace, and giving our pupils a clearer understanding of the opportunities available to them.”
