QE Future Engineers Scheme

Liz Bryan, the Future Engineers Co-ordinator says:

“We are pleased that we are helping to support the future of UK engineering by enabling our students to gain a range of experiences through the scheme. By working closely with our partners, we are able to raise awareness of the rewards of engineering as a career as well as the exciting and crucial work that is going on within companies on a local, national and international level. “

Engineering is an enormous and exciting employment sector, offering a huge variety of job opportunities, not just in this country but around the world. So, it’s wonderful to see QE students progressing each year to universities and apprenticeships in the field of engineering. Participation in our Future Engineers Scheme is a great way of learning more about the industry and how you might play a part in it. With its links to top quality local companies; partnerships with university engineering departments and many opportunities to supplement your academic studies with engineering based activities, this scheme really will help you to achieve your engineering ambitions.

Principal

QE Future Engineers Scheme

What is the Future Engineers Scheme?QE’s Future Engineers scheme was launched in September 2013 in order to support initiatives to redress the shortage of engineers at national and local level. Engineering UK has highlighted the need to double the number of annual recruits into engineering by 2020 to meet expected demand and the north-east itself is facing a skills gap with not enough young people coming forward to fill those gaps. As a 6th form college with bright young people studying STEM subjects, we want to connect our students’ learning with vocational experience and the opportunity to become aware of the wide range of careers within the industry.

Who is it for?For students with an interest in discovering engineering. It is preferable to take maths and science subjects. You will:

Take part in employer visits to see how engineering works first hand Gain access to a network of organisations and specialists including work

experience Have access to links with mentors who can offer advice and support about

engineering as a career, and offer interview practice Gain information from university engineering departments via talks and visits Take part in a range of activities to gain some practical engineering skills Have access to competitions Be given specialist careers advice on all engineering specialisms Gain an excellent academic experience through QE’s Science and

Mathematics Programme Areas Have the opportunity to be a Future Engineers Ambassador

How to apply: You will be invited to a meeting once you have

joined the college.

You will need to complete an application form demonstrating your interest and commitment to the scheme.

QE Future Engineers Scheme

What are the benefits?

You will gain: An insight into engineering as a career Job related skills as well as other transferable skills essential for degree

level study or employment Well developed links with local and national engineering companies Excellent preparation for university courses/employment Information on varied engineering experiences, including summer

schools, Year in Industry and Headstart programmes Up to date information on specialist schemes and initiatives regarding

engineering including sponsorships, scholarships and bursaries

QE Future Engineers Scheme

A wide range of local, national and international companies University engineering departments Professional institutions Darlington’s Foundation for Jobs Ex QE students who have become engineers

QE Future Engineers Scheme

Johnson Matthey, a leader in sustainable technologies

“We are very keen to support the college’s initiative – by offering work shadowing, we hope that we can entice some of the best graduates back into the north east and into our company”

GlaxoSmithKline, global healthcare company

“We feel that the skills pipeline is an important part of our role and we are eager to continue our relationship to develop the engineers of the future”

Mechtool, a pioneer in the design of fire and blast solutions

“This scheme is definitely something we are keen to support – it is good to see that the college is introducing students to a great industry”.

What some of our students sayLiam “My work experience at Cleaner Air Solutions gave me an opportunity

to use industry standard software – it gave me some additional skills and something to talk about in my personal statement when applying to uni”

Connor “Glaxo was really impressive – it was really eye-opening to see how industry applies what we learn in class. Work experience has been really helpful in helping me to decide what I want to study at university”

Frances “Being able to see at QE’s Engineering Event how different modern prostheses compare to those of twenty years ago was amazing – I was able to see how an engineer’s design and problem solving skills are used to match the requirements of each individual patient – this has definitely confirmed that I want to study medical engineering”

Carrie “Going to Alstom, I was able to work alongside a civil engineer – although I am hoping to study mechanical engineering at university, this opportunity has helped to strengthen my university application”

QE Future Engineers Scheme

Edward JohnEdward studied A Level Further Maths, Physics and Geography. Whilst on the QE Future Engineers Scheme, he was able to gain an insight into sub-sea engineering with Modus Ltd as well as supporting school students at the college’s Hovercraft Challenge. He was successful in gaining sponsorship from Darlington’s Encouraging Engineering Initiative where he will gain paid work experience with a range of Darlington companies whilst at university. He has been successful in gaining a place at Sheffield University to study Mechanical Engineering

He says: “The Future Engineers scheme gave me the opportunity to spend some time with the Managing Director of a local sub-sea engineering company who gave up his time to not only talk to me about the industry but I was also able to see how the unmanned underwater vehicle systems are used for subsea developments in many different sectors. The scheme also signposted me to Darlington’s Encouraging Engineering Initiative which will give me invaluable work experience during my time as an undergraduate”

Anisha studied A Level Maths, Further Maths, Chemistry and Phyics; in her first year she successfully completed AS French and General Studies. Whilst on the scheme Anisha worked as a mentor and Future Engineers Ambassador to first year students as well as supporting the college’s Hovercraft Challenge working with students from local schools. Anisha has progressed to Imperial College to study chemical engineering.

She says: “The Future Engineers Scheme gave me some invaluable interview practice prior to my actual university interview. I was given some tough problems to think

Anisha Harris

about by an engineer from SABIC. This gave me the confidence to approach the real thing having had to answer questions about my personal statement as well as having to think outside the box”.

QE Future Engineers Scheme

Brad studied Maths, Biology and Physics at A Level; in his first year he successfully completed AS Psychology and General Studies. The Future Engineers Scheme provided the opportunity to attend an interactive engineering conference at Teesside University where he learnt how to design and build a bridge; his aim was to progress to study civil engineering at university. However, after a work placement at Mechtool he was offered an apprenticeship and decide to pursue his career through the work based route. Brad hopes to study part time at university.

He says: “I really enjoyed the opportunities I was offered on the scheme; although I had applied and been

Brad Hemmings

offered a place at university to study civil engineering, I decided that I would prefer to train through the apprenticeship route so that I can get hands-on experience as well as building my theoretical knowledge. I have been offered a great opportunity through Mechtool , a company which has won various awards for its apprenticeship training and I feel lucky to have the chance to join a great industry”.

Charlotte Urwin Charlotte studied A Level Maths, Physics and Religious Studies; in her first year she successfully completed AS Level Biology and General Studies. The Future Engineers Scheme was able to offer her work experience at James Cook University Hospital where she was able to see how prosthetic limbs are engineered and fitted. Charlotte has gained a place at Hull Univesity to study biomedical engineering.

She says: “Work experience reinforced my desire to study biomedical engineering at university – I really want to feel I am making a difference to someone’s life, and this is a good way to do it. We need more

girls to study engineering and I have been able to work as a QE Future Engineers Ambassador talking to girls about engineering as a career”

Future Engineers Destinations 2013 / 2014

ProgressionOur students have been very successful in gaining places at prestigious universities to study a range of engineering disciplines. The scheme has supported them in making choices and many have benefitted from attending engineering residentials as well as summer schools.

Callum Abbs Civil Salford

Robert Amery Chemical Loughborough

Jodie Barker Mechanical Northumbria

Daniel Barton Chemical Sheffield

Frances Blake Medical Bradford

Jake Brown Mechanical Sunderland

Philip Burford Mechanical Teesside

Christopher Chapman Mechanical Northumbria

Fergus Chapman Civil Northumbria

Tara Chedwiggen Medical Hull

Calum Cholmondley Mechanical Sheffield Hallam

Cameron Clark Mechanical Newcastle

James Clark Chemical Herriot-Watt

Victoria Corner Aerospace Imperial College

Bradley Easton Mechanical Northumbria

Joseph Edmonds Mechanical Nottingham

Angus Fletcher Mechanical Newcastle

Henry Francis Chemical Aston

Name Branch of Engineering Destination

Future Engineers Destinations 2013 / 2014

Suzanne Goulder Mechanical Cambridge

Anisha Harris Chemical Imperial College

Brad Hemmings Mechanical Apprenticeship with Mechtool

Abiskar Rai Software Kingston

Olivia Hitchinson Chemical Herriot-Watt

Jake Hodgson Chemical Sheffield

Lewis Hogg Chemical Birmingham

Jacob Humphries Civil Loughborough

Alamin Islam Chemical Construction Management

Edward John Mechanical Sheffield

Alexander Macfarlane Aerospace Loughborough

Jake McAleer Chemical Loughborough

Christopher Milbourne Aerospace Bath

Stuart Mitchell Mechanical Nottingham

Liam O’Neil Mechanical Loughborough

Tristan Riley-Fox Chemical Loughborough

Peter Smith Chemical Leeds

Conor Shield Chemistry Newcastle

Lewis Swanwick Mechanical Liverpool John Moores

Charlotte Urwin Medical Hull

Name Branch of Engineering Destination

Engineering Challenge DayAttended by HRH The Duke of York, QE Future Engineers had the opportunity to work as mentors and advisers to Year 9 and Year 10 pupils to design and build a working hovercraft capable of racing and carrying a pilot. As well as speaking to the Duke of York about their experiences and aspirations regarding engineering, they also met professors and staff from the university of Bradford who helped to run the event. Our students worked in teams to help the pupils problem solve, engage with engineering and use their maths and science in a real life way. Our students commented that it had been a great

day and had given them the opportunity to mentor and encourage the pupils as well as testing their own practical skills!

Aspiring Engineers visit SABICA visit to SABIC on Teesside, one of the world’s top six petrochemical companies and the major producer of plastics and chemicals in Europe gave students an insight into the chemical engineering industry. The company gave a presentation on recruitment including what they look for in a prospective employee as well as a tour of the site demonstrating how chemicals are transported safely, how engineers are involved in health and safety aspects of the plant’s operations and the costs involved to meet environmental standards.

Speakers into college “A Life Enhancing Career in Professional Engineering” was the title of a presentation given by an ex Director of Amec. Students were given an insight into a career in the oil and gas industries as well as an appreciation of the cultural experiences gained from living and working overseas on major projects. The talk demonstrated to students how a career as a professional engineer can later lead to opportunities as Directors and Chief Executives of major companies as well as working on projects for trade and industry.

Below are some of our events . . .

QE’s Engineering Careers FairAttended by a range of local and national employers, universities and training organisations, students from QE and our local schools were able to speak to undergraduates, graduates and apprentices to find out about different routes into engineering as well as making links with employers regarding work experience and job opportunities. A graduate engineer from Johnson Matthey, said: “It was great to give both students and parents advice and to see so many people interested in engineering. It was also good for us to spread the word about our company which a lot of people haven’t heard of or don’t know about the work we do – so thank you for the opportunity”

Visit to Bradford University STEM CentreFuture Engineers enjoyed an opportunity to tour the engineering labs as well as gaining some practical experience making bioplastics, an introduction to biochemical engineering. Undergraduates were on hand to talk about a range of courses including biomedical and environmental engineering. Students learned about joint research projects with China and the university.

Interactive Engineering EventA visit to Teesside University gave the students a chance to try out two branches of engineering, some students designed and built a bridge using CAD, whilst others found out about the principles of aerospace engineering and chemical processes. Those who had chosen mechanical engineering worked in the labs to design and produce a metal head!

The College actively promotes equality of opportunity and values diversity

The Future Engineers Scheme - giving you an introduction to the world of engineering and the range of exciting opportunities it offers!

For further information contact Liz Bryan, Future Engineers Co-ordinator email: ebryan@qeliz.ac.uk

Telephone: 01325 461315

A career in engineering offers the opportunity to work in a very wide range of specialist areas and roles including management and research

Engineers work in exciting industries including construction, transport, cosmetics, medicine, food, fashion and much more……

Unemployment amongst engineers is among the lowest of any sector in the country

Engineering graduates earn on average £26,000 plus in their first year of employment and experienced engineers £65,000 upwards

Engineers have the opportunity to work worldwide Engineers design, develop and innovate and are at the cutting edge of

technology