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.

The post Small island, big possibilities for engineering!  first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Pupil designer Adela, a pupil in Year 7, will see her engineering idea the Medicine Calendar turned into a reality! Inspired by her own experience and sometimes forgetfulness when taking medication, her idea would help a variety of people when it’s medication organiser and alarm feature. It also makes taking medication more fun with music availability.

The ProtoTeam at Canterbury Christ Church University selected this idea because they felt it had great potential to support people in their everyday lives.

The team consists of Nicola Joyce and Adam Bayliss, who will focus on the electrical aspects of the build, while Breeshea Robinson (Senior Specialist Technician) will be responsible for manufacturing the calendar itself.

Their plan is to begin building the prototype in January, with the aim of having it functional by March.

The post Canterbury Christ Church University are creating the Medicine Calendar Prototype first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Primary Engineer brings engineering to life in classrooms across the UK which are designed to engage both teachers and pupils in significant ways by creating meaningful connections between engineering principles and real-world applications.

Primary Engineer facilitates connections between these companies and schools, facilitating meaningful engineer engagement. 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, after all pupils can’t be what they can’t see. This shatters pre-conceived notions about what engineering is and what engineers look like. This not only benefits companies by creating a talent pipeline, but also exposes young minds to the exciting world of engineering right on their doorstep, potentially inspiring future careers.

One company in particular who has embraced these opportunities is The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) who have partnered with Primary Engineer since 2021 to inspire pupils in Lancashire and South East England through the Leaders Award competition. The CAA’s involvement has allowed them to showcase the exciting world of engineering within aviation and aerospace to a wide range of age groups, dismantling misconceptions about careers in this field.

Partnering with Primary Engineer allows us to inspire the next generation of innovators by bridging the gap between education and industry. Together, we empower young minds to explore engineering, fostering creativity, problem-solving, and the skills that shape a sustainable future.

Brenda Jefcoate – CAA STEM Lead

Engineer engagement began with Stuart, a Radio Engineer from the Civil Aviation Authority, creating an on-site video highlighting his work, which was given to all participating schools to use as a resource at the early stages of the competition, resulting in 270 pupils using this as their engagement and over 60 pupils listing Stuart as their Inspiring Engineer. A Year 2 pupil at River Mill Primary School named Stuart as their Inspiring Engineer and went on to be one of this 2023-2024 competition winners for that year group and area of the UK!

Five of the Civil Aviation Authority’s engineers brought engineering into the classrooms of the South East region and interacted with over 980 pupils at the early stages of the competition as they prepared to identify problems that they’d like to solve.

‘I like judging entries as well as doing the initial sift, but the sifting is my favourite part. It is so exciting, because you have no idea what is going to jump out and catch your attention, coming from a young person’s imagination. I remember the first time I did a sift, a creation from a young Scottish girl was so well drawn, I loved it. It was totally impractical, a bug and animal house, with natural predators living together, but it stood out from the crowd, and I loved it, so I placed it in the ‘winners’ pile. I didn’t expect to ever see it again, but later in the year I attended the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) to do a STEM talk with colleagues, and all of the countries chosen winners were on display. I walked around to look at all of the brilliant ideas, and there was the bug and animal house! I couldn’t believe it, so much so that I laughed out loud with joy. Whoever had judged the sifted entries had felt the same thrill that I had, seeing the passion and creativity that had gone into that idea. I really do hope that young girl goes to on to do something incredible, because she truly inspired me.’

Colin Greenwood – CAA

Be part of the story

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 and our dedicated Engineer Relationship Team will be in touch.

Our achievements wouldn’t be possible without our partners, whose efforts have made a profound impact on schools, students, and the engineering professionals who have helped inspire the next generation of engineers.

If you want to become a partner and help us shape the future of engineering in the UK, get in touch today to learn about funding opportunities.

About Primary Engineer®

Primary Engineer is an educational not-for-profit organisation that provides programmes to encourage children from 3 to 19 years to consider STEM and engineering careers. Primary Engineer inspires children, pupils, parents and teachers through continued professional development courses, whole class project work, competitions, and engagement with engineering and industry professionals to ensure the learning has a context to the wider world. Primary Engineer addresses the diversity and gender imbalance in engineering with early years, primary and secondary pupils.

About the UK Civil Aviation Authority

The UK CAA is the UK’s aviation regulator. Its activities include: making sure that the aviation industry meets the highest technical and operational safety standards; preventing holidaymakers from being stranded abroad or losing money because of tour operator insolvency; planning and regulating UK airspace; and regulating airports, air traffic services and airlines; and providing advice on aviation policy.

The post Sparking a Passion for Engineering: How Civil Aviation Authority Role Models Ignite Young Minds first appeared on Primary Engineer.

The Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal is a collaboration between The MacRobert Trust and Primary Engineer, with support from The WEIR Group PLC, and the awards highlight the culmination of the Leaders Award competition. This program challenges pupils aged 3–19 to answer the question: “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” Selected ideas are brought to life by ProtoTeams—collaborations between students, engineers, and industry partners—turning school pupils ideas into working prototypes. 

This year, 10 ProtoTeams were honoured with Bronze, Silver, and Gold Medals, recognizing their ingenuity and collaboration. 

Dr Susan Scurlock MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Primary Engineer, expressed her gratitude during the ceremony: 

“We are so delighted to be able to honour everyone who has been involved in bringing these porotypes to life – the pupils, parents & carers, engineers, teachers, judges, and our dedicated supporters. We extend our deepest gratitude to The MacRobert Trust and WEIR Group for their essential support and spirit of innovation, The University of Strathclyde School of Engineering for providing us with the stunning Barony Hall, and of course a massive thank to Tunnocks for providing us with the Caramel Wafers!” 

Distinguished speakers, including Andrew Everett (CEO, ERA Foundation), Paula Cousins (Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Weir Group PLC), and Ivan McKee MSP (Scottish Government Minister for Finance), also addressed the audience, celebrating the creativity and dedication of the winners. 

Jon Stanton, Chief Executive of The Weir Group and part of this year’s judging panel, praised the initiative: 

“Creating mining technology for a more sustainable future lies at the heart of what we do at Weir. We must think differently and challenge the way things have always been done. That aligns well with Primary Engineer’s initiative to harnesses the imagination and creativity of school children to innovate and invent solutions to everyday challenges. It has been incredible to see first-hand how the ProtoTeams use their engineering skills to bring the best ideas to life. And then to recognise and celebrate the best innovations with the prestigious Primary Engineer MacRobert Medals. Weir has been working with Primary Engineer since 2018 to develop innovation and I’m personally delighted to be involved again. We can’t wait to see how the next generation of talent develops novel solutions for the world’s most pressing economic and sustainability challenges.” 

The event also introduced the first Commendation Medal, awarded via a public vote. The winning prototype, the Solar Powered Heated Blanket, captured imaginations and showcased the real-world potential of young innovators’ ideas. 

The Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Ceremony continues to inspire the next generation of engineers, celebrating the power of collaboration, creativity, and innovation in solving global challenges. 

You can find a full list of the Bronze, Silver and gold Medallists below: 

Bronze

Self Regulation Bracelet: The University of Sunderland

ProtoTeam: Dave Knapton, Spyros Fakiridis 

Pupils: Zoeya Khan 

School: Bridgewater Primary School 

Smart Tap: Thales – Belfast

ProtoTeam: Sinead Kearney, Lenin Stevenson, Josh McCreedy, Joel Lucas, Lukas Leung, Andrew Smyth 

Pupils: Seyi Akintayo 

School: Aston Clinton 

Walkie Frame: Thales – Templecombe

ProtoTeam: Charlie Weller, Benjamin Gardiner, Archie Whittaker 

Pupils: Erin Feltham 

School: Les Quennevais School 

Tap of Germs: Thales – Cheadle

ProtoTeam: Isabel Chadwick, Fiona Gilmour, Adam Cartwright, Olamide Olorunfemi, Alicia Riviere, Jack Bratt 

Pupils: Madiha Zazai 

School: Westwood High 

Silver

Switch-A-Boot: Manchester Metropolitan University

ProtoTeam: Mark Chester 

Pupils: Noah Chadderton 

School: Altrincham Preparatory School 

Solar Powered Heated Blanket: Thales – Glasgow

ProtoTeam: Shivam Sharma, Olivia Chard, Ruaridh Colombini Allison, Alexander Brodie, Cameron Doull, Douglas Mackay 

Pupils: Rebecca Young 

School: Kelvinside Academy 

Moving Solar Panel: Queens University Belfast

ProtoTeam: Kevin Fitzsimons, Siofra Frost, Jonathan Browning, Robert Best, TJ Cosgrove 

Pupils: Sam Curley 

School: St Patrick’s Primary School 

Sign Right: Thales – Crawley

ProtoTeam: Megan Backhouse, Dylan Patel, Aidan Crockford, Josh Pollard, Matthew Tomsett 

Pupils: Scarlet Smith 

School: Strafford Primary School 

Gold

Seed Planting Drone: The University of Southampton

ProtoTeam: Joshua Shearing, Ser Lin Ung, J Kee Kok, Joshua Pinker, Kang Jie Lee, Janavi Patel, Ian Williams, Tim Woolman 

Pupils: Emily Jackson 

School: St James’ C of E Primary Academy 

Clean Water Access Bot (C.W.A.B): GKN Aerospace

ProtoTeam: Tom Ramsbottom, Ian Gent, Remo Prior-Calver, Matthew Hunt, Sam Hargrave, Christopher Heaysman 

Pupils: Ben Miles 

School: Countess Gytha Primary School 

Commendation Medal – Winner of the Public Vote

Solar Powered Heated Blanket: Thales – Glasgow

ProtoTeam: Shivam Sharma, Olivia Chard, Ruaridh Colombini Allison, Alexander Brodie, Cameron Doull, Douglas Mackay 

Pupils: Rebecca Young 

School: Kelvinside Academy 

View the full selection of photos from the event on our Primary Engineer Facebook page.

The post Pupils and Engineers from across the UK Honoured for Innovation at Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Ceremony  first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Pupil designer Libby, a pupil in P7, will see her engineering idea the ‘Bench Bed’ turned into a reality! Her idea is a bench by day but can become a bed by night, folding down to become a bed with walls surrounding it making it a warm environment for homeless people to sleep in.

Introduction to the ProtoTeam:

Imogen Heard, Specialist Technical Officer (STO) (Co-Electrics Lead and Ergonomics): “I have been with The university of Edinburgh for almost 3 years as a Specialist Technical Officer. My focus is on Embedded Systems, utilising digital electronics & programmable microcontrollers to develop automation, sensing and data acquisition systems for research & teaching experiments.”

Steven Gourlay, Mechanical workshop Technical Support Officer (TSO) (Co-Design Lead): “I have been involved in Design/ Manufacturing for over 37 years. I join the university of Edinburgh in 2007 as the technician for Chemical Engineering. In 2011 I took on the role of Technical Support Officer (TSO) and I am responsible for the introduction, development and management of the current manufacturing facility in the School of Engineering. I also look after the design and development of research equipment within the Institute of Materials and Processes as well as assisting with other institutes when required.”

Alasdair Christie, Assistant Laboratory Technician (Co-Electrics Lead and Comms Lead): “I have been with the University of Edinburgh for 7 years starting as a lab assistant and working my way up the ranks. Thanks to the support of the university I have recently graduated with a BEng Electrical and Electronic degree and I am enjoying being able to apply what I have learned over the years to the exciting projects Primary Engineer has produced.”

Dr Katie Grant, Student Recruitment and Outreach Officer (Schools Lead): “I have been with the School of Engineering for a year and a half, but have been at the University of Edinburgh for 10 years having started as an undergraduate student and going on to complete my PhD here too. My current role involves working with schools to engage young learners with engineering and helping them on their journey to becoming an engineer! I lead the public engagement and schools programme in the team, and am overall project manager too.“

Tom Bolland, MakerSpace Supervisor (Materials): “I have over 6.5 years of experience working with cool projects. For the past 3.5 years, I’ve been a MakerSpace supervisor, helping people build things like rockets and race cars. Before that, I spent 3 years making electronics for escape rooms, creating fun puzzles. I love taking fun ideas and turning them into reality with hands-on work and creativity.”

Iain Gold, Technical Support Officer (TSO) (Budget Lead): “I have been with the University of Edinburgh for nearly 10 years starting of as the technician for the electronics teaching laboratory. I have worked my way up and became Technical Services Officer (TSO) for the Electrical and Electronic Group. I have always had a passion for engineering and love taking things apart and seeing what makes them tick.”

Matthew Proudfoot, Assistant Mechanical Workshop Technician (Co-Design Lead): “My job is to help with manufacturing mechanical parts for research projects for the school of engineering. I have been with the University for over 4 years mainly as an apprentice where I learned a variety of technical skills for an engineering workshop from industry experienced professionals.”

Mathew Hunton, Assistant Mechanical Engineering Technician (Mechanical): “After over a decade in the oil and gas sector in Alberta, Canada, I returned to school and completed a diploma in Nanosystems Engineering Technology at NAIT before moving to Scotland to join the Civil and Structural Engineering department at University of Edinburgh.”

Dr Marcelo Dias, Reader in structural engineering (Structures): “I’m currently is a Reader in Structural Mechanics at the University of Edinburgh, leading the “Mechanics and Geometry of Advanced Structures Laboratory” (MEGA SLab) in the Institute for Infrastructure and Environment at the School of Engineering. I’ve been in the school for 3.5 years.”

Why have they chosen this pupil idea?

There were a variety of reasons the Bench Bed was chosen, but primarily it was the social responsibility aspect they liked. It was brilliant to see a young person caring for those in a less fortunate position than themselves, putting in time and effort to think of how to improve their situation by giving them a safe, warm, and dry place to sleep. It was particularly heartening to see that the pupil was thinking of more than just her community, stating “there are millions of homeless people all around the world”. It also has the potential for use by a wide range of people in the public and provides us with the opportunity to engage with local communities and schools by asking them to help design the outer shell of the bench.

The ProtoTeam also liked the clear design and detailed explanation of how the Bench Bed would work. It showed how the bench would fold in and out, as well as the extra features like blankets, pillows, and lights. The pupil demonstrated how it could be used in the day and not just at night.

Commercial potential was also seen in the design. The adaptability of the design features to fit different budgets really highlighted that this product could one day be taken up by charities and councils.

Last, but not least, they liked its potential. In the selection meeting, it was discussed how the design could be expanded to include many features to help people. Features such as phone chargers, Wi-Fi, help alerts, and monitoring of the homeless population (something that is lacking unfortunately) were all discussed. It also has the potential for the design to be modified to fit in with its surroundings.

Initial Design Meeting:

After selecting the Bench Bed, the ProtoTeam had an initial design meeting where they brainstormed ideas and designs for how they would make the Bench Bed a reality.

It was a robust discussion where they explored many concepts, from box-shaped beds to cylinders to canopies. A key part of the discussion was visualising how the mechanics of the design could be used. They also discussed what materials could be used, what the aesthetic could be, what electrics could go into it, and potential manufacturing methods.

At the end of the meeting, they had two designs we planned on creating with Computer Aided Design (CAD) and presenting to Libby.

Presenting to Libby

On Friday 27th of September the team held a design meeting with Libby and her parents. The key aims of this meeting was to introduce her to the team and to have her feedback on the proposed changes to her original design. After pitching the designs to Libby, she decided to go with design two. The team were very clear with why they had made the changes they had, and explained that by using a cylindrical design the mechanism would be much easier for people to use. Libby liked that the second design could be a shelter during the day as well as turning into the bed at night, she was also happy with the change in design from a box to a cylinder.

After further discussion, it was decided the following would be good to include, if possible, in the storage compartments:

i. Pillow and covers

ii. Heated blanket

iii. Mattress

iv. Towel

v. Basic first aid kit

vi. Hygiene supplies

vii. Defibrillator

For the electrics, Libby liked the idea of the following:

i. USB charger

ii. Solar panels

iii. Lights that come on when it’s dark

iv. Lights that can be switched off

v. GSM, communications system for those without a phone

A few more advancements that were developed in the meeting by Libby and the team included:

• discussion of an internal foldable structure to reflect the heat and/or a ventilation system to ensure the structure doesn’t overheat
• the idea of having a hook at the back of the design along with some sort of drying rack for clothes
• discussion of 3D printing the light switch with glow-in-the-dark filament or adding an LED to it
• a possible water filtration system to capture rainwater and provide drinking water

One aspect that Libby was keen on, which shows great social responsibility, was the Bench Bed being open to everyone so it not to have a locking system to access.

Next steps

Invigorated from their discussions the team will finalise the design and develop a timeline for construction. As Libby is a keen budding engineer, showing enthusiasm for both the construction and electrical parts of the design, the university plan to have her along to assist with part of the construction and soldering of the electrical components.

They will also reach out to Social Responsibility and Sustainability team at the University of Edinburgh to discuss working with homeless charities to ensure that they are considering all aspects of rough-sleeping, an aspect Libby is also interested in being involved in.

We are looking forward to receiving the next update from the ProtoTeam.

The post University of Edinburgh Creating the Bench Bed Prototype first appeared on Primary Engineer.

The competition asks pupils aged 3-19 “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” and is free to every school and home educated group in the UK. The initiative encourages pupils to identify problems in the world around them and come up with creative solutions, embedding within them that innovative problem-solving is a key part of being an engineer.

The real impact of the competition comes from Primary Engineer linking schools with engineering professionals to provide meaningful engineer engagement, first-hand introduction to the world of engineering and supporting schools with getting started on the competition.

The engineer engagement opportunities are varied and flexible. Ryan, Director of Engineering at Howden, took part in a pre-recorded online video, a 10-15 minute video talking about his job and what he loves about the world of engineering. The video was sent out to all the schools in Scotland who had signed up to the competition and to date has been viewed by over 2,010 pupils.

”Watched the pre-recorded videos of an engineer very useful but also enjoyed the page with lots of engineers and their journeys/inspiration was very useful for high school students to relate to”. The Featherstone Academy

Plus Howden invited pupils in from local schools to have a guided tour around their site and to interview engineers from different sectors.

Howden’s ‘Bright Futures’ community volunteering programme was launched to aligned with their social commitments to champion diversity, fairness and equality of opportunity. Since the implementation of the ‘Bright Futures’ program in 2021, Howden has successfully connected with primary and secondary schools, community groups and organisations across Scotland. With a particular focus on supporting underrepresented and disadvantaged people within communities, they have hosted workshops both on and off-site to encourage young people to explore Engineering and STEM subjects. Howden’s team of volunteers seek to inspire the future generations of Engineers and Scientists, to break down barriers and stigmas in the industry and to encourage everyone to learn something new and have fun. The Primary Engineer partnership will help Howden achieve their environmental and social strategy which promotes diversity of a global workforce and positive community impact.

“We are excited to continue our partnership with Primary Engineer for another year and to once again support the inspiring Leaders Award Competition. We look forward to seeing the innovative ideas and creative solutions from the next generation of young engineers!” Howden

Information on how to participate in this year’s competition is available to all schools and teachers via the website: www.leadersaward.com.

The post Howden and Primary Engineer are back for 2024/2025! first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Through this collaboration, we’ll equip teachers with the tools and resources they need to confidently deliver engaging STEM lessons. Our engineers will also join students in the classroom, offering hands-on experiences to inspire the engineers of tomorrow.

What is the Primary Engineer Rail Programme?

The Primary Engineer Rail Programme is a STEM initiative that blends creativity and practical skills. Guided by professional engineers who bring real-world context to the classroom, students engage in project-based learning where they design, build, and test model rail vehicles.

This hands-on learning makes engineering fun, builds technical skills, and raises awareness of engineering careers, helping to close the UK’s engineering skills gap.

Why Belvoir Rail are partnering with Primary Engineer?

Primary Engineer offers more than just STEM education, they promote diversity in engineering. We want students from all backgrounds to see themselves as future engineers, breaking down stereotypes and showing that engineering is a field open to everyone.

Belvoir Rail are passionate about encouraging interest in STEM subjects and supporting the next generation of engineers. Their Communications Manager, Sonja Greschner, shares why this programme means so much to them:

“Early exposure to engineering can truly ignite a spark in young minds. By giving students the chance to roll up their sleeves and dive into STEM, we hope to spark a passion that could lead to a lifelong career in engineering. This isn’t just about building skills, it’s about building confidence and opening doors, showing students that anyone can be an engineer”

Belvoir Rail were especially inspired to participate in this programme after exhibiting at this year’s Rail Live event, where we were joined by students from the 2023/2024 Primary Engineer cohort. Seeing the pupils engage with real-world rail engineering showed them just how much enrichment activities like this can add.

The Impact of Primary Engineer

Primary Engineer has already made a huge difference, with over 117,000 pupils participating in the 2023-2024 academic year alone. We’re proud to join forces and help more students experience the excitement of engineering.

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.

By partnering with Primary Engineer, Belvoir Rail are committed to creating valuable opportunities for students to explore STEM subjects and see the real-world impact of what they learn in the classroom. We’re inspiring a new generation of diverse, skilled, and passionate young engineers, showing students just how bright their future in engineering can be.

And who knows? The next groundbreaking rail innovation could very well come from one of the young minds we’re inspiring today.

We are looking to grow the programme even more in 2024/2025, and if you want to partner with us you can learn more here: https://www.primaryengineer.com/funding-opportunities/

The post Belvoir Rail Partners with Primary Engineer to Inspire Future Engineers first appeared on Primary Engineer.

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.

The post Full steam ahead for STEM in Warwickshire first appeared on Primary Engineer.

Our qualifications, meticulously created for both educators and industry needs, cater to teachers, educators, and career advisors. They are designed deepen your understanding of the engineering sector, explore essential engineer skillsets, and uncover exciting career paths in the field. You’ll learn to seamlessly integrate these insights into your curriculum, fostering meaningful connections between engineering principles and real-world learning.

Fuel your passion for inspiring the next generation of engineers through this research-based professional development.

Here’s what educators are saying:

“Massively improved subject knowledge and [how to] successfully deliver DT to children. Amazing experience! Fantastic that resources and assistance is provided. Amazing knowledgeable course leader. Thank you! Best training day I’ve had in a decade!” – Joel, Asquith

Explore our course offerings:

Engineering STEM in the classroom

Our Engineering STEM in the Classroom course was delivered across Ireland this year in partnership with Engineers Ireland. It focuses on teachers learning more about engineers, engineering and career paths so they are better informed to advise their pupils and learners. The course features a combination of guided and self-guided study over 12 hours.

Engineering a Career

In 2024, we also launched Engineering a Career with support from Ford Philanthropy, a short course perfect for school career leads and guidance teachers. It highlights opportunities for cross-subject interests leading to amazing careers in engineering – meaning that pupils who show aptitudes for engineering in any subject can be encouraged to look at that career path. This course can be completed in as little as 15 hours which equates to 1 hour per week. After a successful pilot, this course is now available with funded bursaries for the 2024/2025 academic year thanks to support from Ford Philanthropy and Royal Air Force Charitable Trust.

Engineering your Curriculum PGCert

Engineering Your Curriculum PGCert, endorsed by Education Scotland, comprises of 16 hours guided learning over a recommended 8-week period.

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• Design and assemble the bodywork
• Build a remote to control the CWAB

Bodywork
There were a few options available to the team for the bodywork. The roll-bars on the vehicle provided a natural support structure for fixing on the panels, along with some additional framework that was secured to the rear of the vehicle. Initial discussions considered the manufacture of the bodywork panels from a variety of materials to make use of the teams’ expertise and capability. These included plastic and metallic sheet materials, 3D printed materials, as well as lightweight composite carbon fibre panels. In the end, for time and cost reasons, it was determined that plastic sheet materials would be the most feasible. These sheets of plastic were cut to shape and then assembled onto the support frame.

Remote
To allow easy use of the C.W.A.B, the team were keen to stay faithful to Ben’s original design by having a very simple remote interface (one button!). They started by determining what the remote needed to do: send a signal to the electronics in the car to carry out the programme(s) stored on-board. It was decided to have two on-board programmes:

1. Lower the hose arm, turn on the pump, turn off the pump, raise the arm
2. Same as programme 1 but also with driving included

As a result, they connected two buttons (one for each program) to an Arduino circuit board that when pushed, would send their corresponding signal via a radio transmitter to a receiver on-board the car. When the car received the signal, it would begin the program. All of this was housed inside a 3D printed casing, with an antenna protruding out the top to boost the range of the signal.

CWAB On The Road
Having finished the bodywork and remote, the CWAB was ready to be unveiled at the South West Leaders Award exhibition held at the University of West England on the 5th July. The GKN Aerospace ProtoTeam gave a presentation at the event about their prototype, explaining the design, manufacture and operation of the C.W.A.B. before inviting Ben to the stage to unveil it for the first time! The team then gave a live demonstration of it in action.

The next event in the calendar was a visit to Ben’s school. The team gave an interactive presentation about GKN Aerospace and the wider industry, before revealing the C.W.A.B to Ben’s classmates and having a show-and-tell session where they could get up close, ask questions, and see it in action!

The final stop on the C.W.A.B’s summer tour was to Farnborough Airshow for the ‘Pioneers of Tomorrow’ STEM event. The prototype was showcased (next to a GKN Aerospace jet engine) alongside several other interactive STEM activities GKN Aerospace had been working on, with visitors coming and going from the GKN Tech Hall all day. This was a real highlight of the project, where all of the teams’ hard work was shown off to members of the public and the industry alike.

Upon finishing the project, the GKN Aerospace team reflected that ‘the project as a whole has been an amazing experience for those involved, inspiring us with the creativity and innovation of Ben and all of the other designs submitted to the competition, and hopefully allowing us to inspire some of the next generation of engineers to pursue careers in STEM’.

The post The final update on the CWAB Prototype first appeared on Primary Engineer.