Morson Projects and Primary Engineer join forces to engage young students in the world of engineering
Funding from Morson Projects will provide teachers from ten primary schools in the Greater Manchester area with the tools, teaching resources and professional development to deliver a practical rail engineering project for their pupils.
Multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy Morson Projects has today announced its partnership with Primary Engineer, an educational not-for-profit organisation that engages primary and secondary school pupils and teachers with engineering and technology.
The partnership will see teachers receive training on how to build two model vehicles, one for Key Stage 1 pupils and another for Key Stage 2 pupils, as part of a STEM-based rail project, which culminates in a celebration event where schools come together and test their models.
In addition to the funding, ten engineers from Morson Projects will be supporting teachers during the training day, in-class build and celebration event, providing students with a real-life example of an engineer while facilitating discussion and answering questions.
Andy Hassall, Associate Director at Morson Projects, commented: “We’re thrilled to be involved in this Primary Engineer programme. The rail industry is facing a skills shortage and proactive, educational interventions like this are part of the solution! Creative, hands-on challenges are a great way of capturing young people’s imaginations and breaking down barriers to participation, especially for pupils who may never have pictured themselves as engineers before.”
Chris Rochester, UK Director of Primary Engineer, said: “We’re proud of this partnership with Morson Projects, which will establish a meaningful link between engineering and education in the classrooms of ten schools and will help learners to apply cognitive and practical skills in maths, science, design, technology and literacy, all through an engineering theme. Furthermore, it introduces them to a whole world of opportunities in STEM.”
Morson Projects’ partnership with Primary Engineer is indicative of the Morson Group’s wider commitment to the rail industry, following its launch, in collaboration with Network Rail, of the first ever national rail training and assessment academy earlier this year.
Ged Mason, Group CEO at Morson added: “This represents the latest in a series of investments made by our Group in support of STEM learning opportunities. The Morson Group is the main funding partner for the University of Salford’s Maker Space, a fully-equipped STEM facility designed to provide students with hands-on experience, and the local Into University centre in Salford, which encourages learning and aspiration for 7–18-year-olds from underprivileged backgrounds. As part of our strategy it’s important to us to encourage early learners into considering STEM opportunities and our involvement with Primary Engineer is one more way in which we are delivering on our commitment to do that in a tangible and meaningful way.”
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About Morson
Morson Group is a sector-leading, global recruitment business, helping clients formulate and deliver people strategies that enable commercial growth and resilience. With a team of more than 1000 people operating from 60 locations worldwide, the company leverages its 50-year track record across five brands: Morson Talent, Vital, Anderselite, Cornwallis Elt and The Bridge. It supports clients and generates opportunities for candidates in the permanent, temporary, and contractor markets in sectors as diverse as aerospace, automotive, construction, IT & digital, defence, manufacturing, maritime, nuclear, oil & gas, professional services, renewables, rail & transport and telecoms.
The company remains headquartered in Salford, where it was first established by founder, Gerry Mason, in 1969. Gerry’s son, Ged Mason, is now group chief executive and remains committed to building on the company’s 50-year legacy, both in the added value services it provides to clients and the social value it creates within communities. The company and the Mason family have established the Morson STEM foundation, which includes the Gerry Mason Engineering Scholarship and the Morson Scholarship, which, together, have so far been responsible for enabling 53 students from underprivileged backgrounds to access a university education. The company is also the main funding partner for the University of Salford’s Maker Space, a fully-equipped STEM facility designed to provide hands-on experience and multi-disciplinary collaboration opportunities for students. It also funds the local Into University centre in Salford, which encourages learning and aspiration for 7-18 year-olds from underprivileged backgrounds. The Morson Stem Foundation also includes the Pathfinder Academy, which aims to help those returning to the workplace or seeking a change in career to acquire new digital or engineering skills.
About Primary Engineer
Primary Engineer is an educational not-for-profit organisation founded in 2005 which aims to engage both primary and secondary school pupils and teachers with the vast and inspirational world of engineering and technology. They work with businesses and industry across the UK to help develop a future, diverse generation of engineering and technology professionals.