Engineering Competition Continues To Inspire UK Students

Renishaw, the UK-based science and engineering technologies company and Young Engineers, the organisation devoted to encouraging careers in engineering, are for the third consecutive year running a competition that will enable 6 young people to experience a unique week-long insight into engineering-based organisations.

In 2014 the six winning students of the competition were given behind-the-scenes tours of eight big name engineering organisations, including BAE Systems, Airbus and Jaguar Land Rover, culminating with a tour and measurement challenge at Renishaw's New Mills headquarters in Gloucestershire. They were accompanied throughout the week by Renishaw graduates who were able to offer insights into a variety of engineering roles and answer questions the students had about their prospective career paths.

Rod Edwards, Chief of Executive of Young Engineers, explains, “We are delighted to again partner with Renishaw on this exciting initiative. Last year's winners had a fantastic time, experiencing everything from aerospace to automotive and different types of engineering. They saw nanotechnology and massive bits of civil engineering, and had a lot of fun. It was very inspiring for them.”

The 2014 winners reflect on their own experiences:

Efe Otobrise, Manchester: “I've enjoyed it a lot, I wasn't expecting to see all the stuff that we saw. I didn't know that engineers' jobs are as fun as they were. I know now that I definitely want to be an engineer.”

Annabel Casemore, Gloucester: “It's given me more options to look at and highlighted a few key areas. I think that Aerospace looked pretty cool.”

Lewis Sudbury, Portsmouth: “You really get a clear idea of where you want to go and from this experience I feel like I really know where I want to specialise.”

Georgiana Jones, Monmouth: “A very valuable experience; completely different from what I'm used to. You really don't know what you are capable of and what you are interested in and I think that if you get a feel for the actual processes and ideas then you will be able to use it and aspire to something in the future.”

Alex Davies, Bristol: “I'll take away a lot of experience in different types of engineering. It's been so varied and I've been really persuaded to go into engineering.”

Matthew Skelding, Gloucester: “I didn't know quite what to expect. It's been nice going around different places in the country, as well as enriching.”

Peter Bowler, Renishaw's Group Human Resources Manager, says, “In its first two years the Renishaw Engineering Experience has proved to be an inspiring and life changing experience for the 6 lucky winners, who are now helping to spread a positive message about the rewarding careers that they witnessed during their week-long tour. As a nation we simply have to attract high quality people into engineering, not just by persuading young people of the rewarding careers on offer, but importantly their teachers, families and other influencers.

The Renishaw Engineering Experience is a fully subsidised, 5 day package of activities which aims to encourage a career in engineering. The experience will allow the six lucky winners to get close to successful engineering-led organisations and heritage sites, meet the people behind their success, and see the products which impact our daily lives. It will once again culminate in a visit to Renishaw's award winning operations in Gloucestershire.

Entry to the competition is open until 31 March 2014, with selection and interviews taking place in April. An entry form can be downloaded from the Young Engineers website at http://www.youngeng.org/assets/REE15-Brochure-and-Booking-Form.pdf and a video about the experiences of the 2014 winners can also be seen at http://youtu.be/H_Hgg74ByV0