Hugh Baird College collaborates with Cataclean to inspire the next generation of Motor Vehicle students
Motor Vehicle students at Hugh Baird College, an Ofsted Outstanding provider, recently took part in an employer-led project with Cataclean, giving learners hands-on insight into the latest innovations shaping the automotive industry.
Cataclean is a UK-based innovator in patented fuel and exhaust system cleaning technology, developing award-winning additives that help extend vehicle life, reduce harmful emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Used globally across the automotive aftermarket and motorsport sectors, Cataclean’s solutions remove carbon, gum and resin deposits from key engine components, supporting cleaner, more efficient and more sustainable vehicle performance.
Peter Eaton, Business Development Manager at Cataclean, visited the College to deliver an interactive training session to Level 2 Automotive students. Peter shared the story of Cataclean’s development, highlighting the importance of innovation, emissions control and real-world application within the modern motor industry.
Students then took part in a live demonstration, testing Cataclean’s fuel additives on three vehicles. They measured emissions, inspected engine performance and monitored fuel economy over a number of months to assess the impact of the product in real operating conditions. The project concluded with a follow-up session in December, where students presented their findings to the Cataclean team, strengthening their technical understanding, analytical skills and confidence in communicating with industry professionals.
Reflecting on the project, Peter said:
These sessions are a fantastic experience, the students are so passionate and eager to learn. It’s inspiring to see their curiosity about emissions technology and their enthusiasm for understanding the practical side of what we do at Cataclean. Following the session, the students are now confidently predicting the emissions results they should expect after treating vehicles with Cataclean.
Iain McClean, Lecturer in Motor Vehicle at Hugh Baird College, said:
It has been a pleasure working with Cataclean as part of the employer-led fuel additives programme. This experience gave our learners a valuable opportunity to see how their college learning links directly to real-world practice, highlighting the transferable skills they are developing and the benefits of working closely with an industry partner. Learners particularly enjoyed building professional relationships and were excited to gain hands-on experience with the vehicles Cataclean brought in to support the programme.
Level 2 Automotive student Lucas Bell commented on his experience of the project:
I really enjoyed this project and seeing the impact the Cataclean product had on the vehicles. The practical tasks and results from each session made it easy to clearly see the before-and-after differences the products made to engine performance. Working with Cataclean has shown me that this qualification isn’t just about fixing cars, but also about understanding how to improve performance and how businesses operate. It has supported my ‘Working in Industry’ unit and given me more confidence when applying for jobs.
As an Ofsted Outstanding provider, Hugh Baird College works closely with employers across the Liverpool City Region and beyond to deliver high-quality, industry-relevant learning experiences.
Ofsted highlighted that “the College provides highly valuable opportunities for students to broaden their horizons and raise their aspirations” and that “leaders devise curriculums that are sufficiently agile to equip students and apprentices with the knowledge and skills they need for employment in emerging industries such as low carbon technologies”, reinforcing the value of employer-led projects like this in preparing learners for future careers.
For more information on Motor Vehicle courses at Hugh Baird College, visit:https://www.hughbaird.ac.uk/subject-area/motor-vehicle-cycle-engineering .
