Today, the Isle of Man’s engineering sector continues to thrive, with a focus on areas such as renewable energy, technology, and marine engineering. The island’s skilled workforce and supportive business environment have made it an attractive location for engineering companies.

The future of engineering in Isle of Man looks at cultivating a diverse and dynamic talent pool, bridging the gap between education and industry starting from the earliest stages of education.

Bringing the joy of engineering into schools 

We have been bringing engineering to life in primary and secondary classrooms across Isle of Man with our fully-funded programme and competition working in partnership with Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce STEM Committee ACE since 2021 and closely with University College of the Isle of Man. These activities engage both teachers and pupils in significant ways by creating meaningful connections between engineering principles and real-world applications.

The ACE Committee (Awareness of Careers in Engineering), comprising of some of the engineering companies on the Isle of Man, is dedicated to promoting STEM skills on the island. ACE funding goes towards programmes in education on the island centered around primary, secondary and college education within STEM subjects.

Early engagement: why starting young matters

Research indicates that interest and perceptions of STEM fields are formed during primary school years and solidify by the early teens. This highlights the importance of early engagement in igniting a passion for engineering.

Furthermore, the UK faces a challenge of low awareness and understanding of engineering amongst its younger generation. Figures published by EngineeringUK in 2020 found that 47% of 11 to 19 year-olds knew little or nothing about what engineers do, with some learners found to possess limited definitions that framed engineering as difficult, complicated and dirty work.

Ref: (EngineeringUK, 2020. Engineering UK 2020: Educational pathways into engineering).

Traditionally, many engineers are inspired by someone they know. But what about pupils who lack such role models? The lack of role models for children or a clear picture of what engineers do, coupled with a lack of diversity in the field, is a significant challenge. This limited understanding translates into a smaller talent pool, hindering the industry’s ability to attract future engineers.

Together with support from our partners, we help to lay the practical foundation for a future generation of passionate and skilled engineers, primed to make a positive impact on the world.

A year of growth and inspiration

But how specifically have we been bringing engineering to Isle of Man? Well we’ve been doing this in two ways, with our Leaders Award competition and our Primary Engineer Construction Programme. Let’s take a deeper look..

Leaders Award competition

Our Leaders Award competition is open to all pupils aged 3-19 and asks the question “If you were an engineer, what would you do?”. Pupils are tasked with interviewing an engineer, where they have the opportunity to ask the questions that matter to them, before identifying a problem, then drawing and annotating a solution. Over 2023-2024 academic year, the competition in the Isle of Man has shown incredible growth, with an 85% increase in participating schools.

We enable connections between companies and schools, facilitating in-school engineering visits, site-visits and live online engineer interviews, fostering local brand awareness and demystifying the engineering profession.

This exposes pupils to a world they might not have known existed, empowers them to ask questions that truly resonate with them and gives them a role model. This shatters pre-conceived notions about what engineering is and what engineers look like. Not only benefits companies by creating a talent pipeline, but also exposing young minds to the exciting world of engineering right on their doorstep, potentially inspiring future careers.

Pupils at Ashley Hill School had family members within the engineering profession, who were invited into the classroom to inspire the pupils at the early stage of the competition. It’s wonderful to see parents get involved in the competition and not only inspire their own children, but their peers too. The school commented to say ”The competition has been amazing for the pupils and has really brought them out of their shells”.

The University College of the Isle of Man hosted this year’s award ceremony and public exhibition with 145 guests attending, including pupils, families, teachers and industry professionals. The exhibition showcased each participating school from the region; it was great to bring everybody together to celebrate the pupils for their incredible efforts in the competition.

We have a fantastic opportunity for Isle of Man schools to join an exclusive live engineer interview during British Science Week with Roger Smith, British watchmaker and the only apprentice of the late master watchmaker, George Daniels. His handmade watches are a work of mechanical art and a celebration of what is possible, applying next generation science to what has always been regarded as a traditional art form. Find out more.

Primary Engineer Construction Programme

For the past 3 years, our partnership with Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce on our Primary Engineer Construction Programme has provided the opportunity for 10 schools to benefit from a one-day CPD training course, supplied kit and resources to build up to 30 projects across two classrooms in each school and a celebration event to bring the schools together and celebrate the power of engineering. The classroom sessions allow for 60 pupils to build 15 Lower Primary tipper trucks and 15 Upper Primary towers with an electrical circuit, working in pairs.

Our partnership also facilitated the opportunity for 5 previously trained schools to receive a continuation kit, meaning they could deliver the project again, to a new class, deepening the impact in the school.

Similarly to the competition, The Primary Engineer Construction Programme provides a fantastic opportunity to engage with engineering, meet and work with engineering professionals and develop engineering skills. Thanks to our partnership, we successfully linked some schools with an engineer to support the teacher within the classroom.

We delivered in-person training in January 2024, which allowed both teachers and engineers to be in the same room and train together, establishing the relationship from the beginning. We were joined by 13 teachers from 10 schools who were excited to build their confidence in delivering STEM Projects to their pupils.

“The course was unbelievably relaxing in nature allowing for a great learning setting as teachers enabling us to be hands which allowed us to get to grips with exactly what was required and issues which might arise with children in our own settings. Even though I say it was relaxing and fun it was fast paced and very informative, definitely sent me back to school wanting to incorporate more STEM based projects into every year group.”

Bunscoill Rhumsaa School

We hosted our celebration event in July 2024 at the UCM, Isle of Man. All participating schools were invited to the event, with 71 pupils attending on behalf of the 723 who participated. We had engineering professionals from Swagelok and Manx Utilities with us for the duration of the morning. They were fantastic in engaging the pupils with their interviews and the testing of their tipper trucks and towers.

“A couple of students of mine who struggle in some areas of learning in the classroom absolutely loved the project. One won the award for ‘Best Communicator’ at the Celebration Event, which gave him so much happiness and confidence!”

Andreas Primary School

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the enthusiasm and creativity that students from the Isle of Man bring to these engineering projects. The partnership with ACE has been instrumental in providing these young minds with the tools and opportunities they need to explore the world of engineering. By engaging with real-world challenges and working alongside industry professionals, students are not only gaining valuable skills but are also getting a taste of what a future career in engineering could look like. This is crucial for addressing the current skills shortage on the island. By inspiring the next generation of engineers, we are helping to ensure a robust and skilled workforce for the future. We are committed to continuing our efforts to bridge the gap between education and industry, and to support these bright young innovators as they embark on their engineering journeys.”

Natasha Kinnear, Head of Partnerships for North West England at Primary Engineer

Be part of the story!

We are proud of our work in the Isle of Man. Are you an engineering and technology professional eager to make a difference? Join the movement and become an ‘Engineer Inspirer’ with Primary Engineer. With our variety of flexible opportunities available, it couldn’t be easier! Simply register your interest by filling out the form below and our dedicated Engineer Relationship Team will be in touch.

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The programme is delivered to Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 children across the UK through Primary Engineer, a not-for-profit organisation whose vision is to ensure all children and pupils achieve their full potential through engagement with engineering.

During the training session, teachers met the Porterbrook engineers professionals who will support them throughout the year as their pupils learn to build their own model trains.

This will be third year Porterbrook has funded the Primary Engineer Rail Programme for schools local to its Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre.

Over the last two years, 1500 pupils in the areas surrounding the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre have taken part in the programme. This year, students at ten primary schools will be involved.

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ACE and Primary Engineer have partnered together since 2021, bringing together industry and education through the Primary Engineer Construction Programme and the Leaders Award competition.

About Leaders Award Competition

The Leaders Award competition asks pupils aged 3-19 the question “If you were an engineer, what would you do?”. All entrants were given the chance to interview an engineer afterwards they are inspired to follow their lead by identifying a problem in the world to come up with a creative solution to that problem. This annual competition saw over 71,000 pupils taking part across the UK. Entries were then graded by local industry professionals before a panel of judges picked two winners and two highly commended for each year group. The cumulation of this competition took place on 9th July at UCM (University College Isle of Man) to celebrate the engineering achievements from pupils across the Isle of Man.

About The Primary Engineer Construction Programme

The Primary Engineer Construction Programme is a cross-curricular programme which allows pupils to build and test their own construction models while getting to interact with engineering professionals in class. The cohort of schools attended a joint school celebration event held on 10th July at UCM to celebrate.

Through these engineering educational activities, teachers are able to confidently embed engineering in their curriculum and, crucially, bring a real-world context into the classroom for pupils through direct engagement with ACE, helping to reduce the gap in skills for this area of the economy.

The impact in the Isle of Man?

Get involved! If you’re a school, check out how we can help you bring STEM into your classroom with our programmes and competitions. Or contact us to become a support of Primary Engineer.

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Our Primary Engineer Programmes provides STEM-based professional development for 2 teachers in a school, allows pupils to build and test their own models while getting to interact with engineering professionals in class, as well as attending a joint school event as they celebrate their achievements at the end of the programme.

These events are a chance for pupils and teachers to showcase their amazing engineering achievements. Imagine a morning filled with “organized chaos and fun” where students get to chat with industry professionals about the models they’ve built.

It’s all about recognising the incredible effort put in by both pupils and teachers.

Huge thank you to Reece Foundation for making this happen! And thank you to Adient, North East Automotive Alliance, Port of Tyne and ADC Electrical for supporting too!

This was just the beginning! We’ve since completed more celebration events around the UK and we’ve got more to come..

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Porterbrook is partnering again with not-for-profit Primary Engineer in 2023/2024 to support Warwickshire students to engage with engineering.

Throughout the academic year, 11 schools are teamed up with Porterbrook’s engineering professionals who support the teachers through the programme as their pupils learn to build their own trains.

The Rail Programme is delivered across the UK through Primary Engineer, whose vision is to ensure all children and pupils achieve their full potential through engagement with engineering. This is the second year Porterbrook has funded the programme for Warwickshire schools after acquiring the Long Marston Rail Innovation centre in 2021.

On Wednesday 29th November 2023, teachers from the participating Warwickshire schools met with the Porterbrook team at the Long Marston Rail Innovation Centre for a training day ahead of the programme beginning early next year.

Nearly 800 pupils across 10 schools participated in the Rail Project in 2023, with 100% of teachers reporting an increase in their understanding of engineering and the diversity challenges in the field.

Porterbrook Chief Operating Officer Ben Ackroyd said, “Connecting with the community local to us at Long Marston is important and so we were proud to support nearly 800 students with STEM engagement last year. We’re looking forward to extending this into 2024 and helping to encourage a diverse future workforce with Primary Engineer.”

Andrew Norris, Head of Partnerships for Central & East England at Primary Engineer, said: “At Primary Engineer, we are passionate about introducing pupils to engineers who can demonstrate the amazing career opportunities in the Rail industry. We are thrilled to collaborate with Porterbrook again and eager to connect their inspiring engineers with more schools and students in Warwickshire!”

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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.”

ENDS

Notes to editors:

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.

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Eversholt Rail is providing funding to enable Primary Engineer to offer professional development and teaching resources for two teachers each at ten schools across Huddersfield, with the aim of helping them run engaging STEM-based rail projects for their pupils. Ten engineers from Eversholt Rail will also be supporting the teachers with delivering this rail project throughout the 2023/24 school year.

The Primary Engineer Programmes provide meaningful links between engineering and education, enabling teachers to deliver an engaging engineering project to pupils in the classroom. Engineering and technology professionals enhance both teachers and pupils’ learning by raising awareness of the breadth of opportunities and careers that the world of engineering offers.

Mary Kenny, Chief Executive Officer, Eversholt Rail, said: “We believe it is so important to engage with the younger generation to inspire them to pursue careers in engineering within the railway industry. This partnership will provide the opportunity to reach out and bring engineering into the classrooms of schools in Huddersfield to hopefully inspire the next generation of engineers.”

Chris Rochester, UK Director of Primary Engineer, said, “This wonderful partnership with Eversholt Rail will enable pupils in the Huddersfield area to identify with rail engineering and develop skills through the Primary Engineer Rail project. The partnership will provide them with opportunities to meet and work with rail engineering professionals in the classroom creating meaningful links between local rail engineers, teachers and pupils.”

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.

About Eversholt Rail

Eversholt Rail owns UK passenger and freight rolling stock and has more than 25 years’ experience in the rail industry. Eversholt Rail has invested more than £3bn in new trains since privatisation and continually invests in its existing fleets to maintain quality and reliability to deliver a better passenger and operator experience.

Eversholt Rail has a proud history of innovation and plays an integral role in the growth and modernisation of the UK rail sector by introducing new products and technologies into the market.

Further information can be obtained on www.eversholtrail.co.uk

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The Global Centre of Rail Excellence is a rail research, testing and innovation centre being built on the former Nant Helen mining site at the head of the Dulais and Swansea Valleys.

The fully funded programme provides training to primary school teachers so that, with the support of engineering professionals who are paired with the schools, they can deliver a tailored engineering project and encourage young people to take an interest in STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics).

The initiative is being funded by GCRE, with support from the Department for Business and Trade in the UK Government and Welsh Government.

Simon Jones, the Chief Executive of the Global Centre of Rail Excellence, said:

“We are delighted to formally launch this exciting partnership between Primary Engineer and the Global Centre of Rail Excellence and to outline the work we will be doing with local primary schools in the area.

“We want the Global Centre of Rail Excellence to have a positive impact in the local community and we feel very strongly about our responsibility to give young people living near our site the opportunity to build a future and a career at our facility.

“That means working with schools and pupils from the earliest ages, encouraging them to take an interest in STEM subjects and inspiring the next generation about engineering and GCRE. We hope this project with Primary Engineer will do just that.”

Kirsty Williams, Chair of the GCRE Community Committee, said:

“Reaching out into the community and working with local primary schools to get young people interested in STEM and build an interest in engineering is part of the long-term ambition of GCRE to ensure the development has a positive impact on the areas around the site.

“GCRE offers an important economic and regeneration opportunity for the valleys nearby and its through building these kinds of long-term partnerships with schools that we can help the next generation access the high quality jobs and opportunities offered by the facility.

“This project, linked to the new Curriculum for Wales, is a great start to that engagement work.”

Chris Rochester, Head of Partnerships for Primary Engineer, added:

“This partnership will provide an extraordinary opportunity to bring the Primary Engineer Rail Project to Wales and for local primary pupils to be inspired by the innovation in rail which will be happening at this world-leading facility.

“By working with teachers in local schools, we’re providing an engaging project for pupils to develop design, build, and make skills as well as developing problem-finding, problem-solving, creativity and team working skills which are core to engineering and the rail sector.

“We believe that all pupils should have the chance to identify with engineering and to see the rail sector and the Global Centre of Rail Excellence as a potential future career for them from the earliest age and this partnership sees the beginning of this.”

The pupils build working models in class which are then put to the test at Celebration Events – a large gathering of all schools, hosted by Primary Engineer and GCRE, that champions pupils’ engineering skills, creativity, and achievements.

The programme will be delivered in the 2023/24 academic year with teacher training beginning in October.

Fourteen local schools are currently being recruited and if successful the opportunity will be offered to other primary schools in the area in future years.

You can learn more about the Primary Engineer initiative here: https://www.primaryengineer.com/rail-project-registration

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We can’t wait to see these teachers again with their pupils at the exciting celebration event at the end of the school year! 

Learn more about how your school can get involved on our courses page! www.primaryengineer.com/courses

I am delighted that Indutrade have joined us as a partner to support the Primary Engineer Vehicles Project in Greater Manchester. They wanted to get involved because of their passion for engineering but also because all the companies in the Indutrade family rely on young engineers coming through for the sustainability of the business and engineering as a whole.

I love and admire the fact that the project is fully supported from the top but is led by Rosie, a graduate engineer and the team she has put together from the various Indutrade companies across the country.

Nathalie Cachet-Gaujard, Head of Partnerships for North of England at Primary Engineer

In the UK we have a fantastic engineering heritage, and yet as business leaders we are constantly challenged to find enough highly skilled engineers to drive our business innovation forward. Being an engineer and working with engineering businesses all my life, I want to inspire the next generation of young STEM students and educate those influential people around them, especially teachers and parents, so that they all truly understand what a rewarding career working in engineering can be. I believe engaging with the Primary Engineer Programme is an excellent way to fulfil this ambition, which is why I’m totally supportive of Indutrade UK sponsoring a Primary Engineer Project. I encourage all engineers or interested persons, like myself, to give a little back to our communities and help more young people see with wide open eyes how creative, challenging and collaborative engineering can be. Please support this great initiative.

Peter Rowlands, Senior Vice President at Indutrade UK

Children are full of creative and wonderful ideas unbounded by real world constraints. Primary Engineer is a fantastic way of channelling that energy into a hands on Engineering challenge and inspiring our next generation of problem solvers.

Dan Wilcock, Project Design Engineer, New Energies at VES (Vacuum Engineering Services)

I wanted to get involved as a STEM ambassador to enable young people to realise the many exciting options available to them within this field. I want to pass on as much information as possible about this exciting and rewarding career path.

Jonathan Ellis – Sales and Project Support Engineer at VES (Vacuum Engineering Services)

I worked with a primary school recently to judge a Billy Goat’s Gruff bridge competition, where they had excellent justifications for their choice of material – the cotton wool topping on the cardboard bridge was to dampen the sound of goat hooves! I am very much looking forward to Primary Engineer and more wonderful ideas coming from their young minds.

Andrea Whittle – Chief Engineer at VES (Vacuum Engineering Services)

The post Indutrade has partnered with Primary Engineer to bring engineering into the classrooms of 10 schools in the Greater Manchester region with our Vehicle Project! first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Learn more about how your school can get involved on our courses page! www.primaryengineer.com/courses

“We are thrilled to be part of the Primary Engineer Rail scheme, which will give young people in our local community a unique opportunity to take part in this exciting and rewarding engineering project. We are keen to get young people thinking about engineering and the possibilities of a career in the rail industry and I’m sure the teachers and their pupils will enjoy this project as much as the c2c team will.”

Jeff Baker, Head of Engineering at c2c, said:

“It’s wonderful to have c2c join us as a Partner for the Primary Engineer Rail Project to bring the opportunity to schools in Essex and inspire more young people with engineering and the rail sector.  Understanding what engineering is and the possibilities within rail from an early age is essential to allow pupils the opportunity to identify themselves with engineering and technology and to develop creative design, build make skills as well as key skills such as problem finding and problem solving.  It’s fantastic to have c2c join the family of companies and organisations who are supporting this project across the country.”

Chris Rochester, UK Director at Primary Engineer

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