Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers at A&P Tyne
Jim Penketh, Training Officer at A&P Tyne, explains how engaging with primary school students holds the key to the successful future of engineering in the region.
From testing their own submarines, to designing rockets and renewable ships, there are so many exciting ways to get young people in our schools excited about engineering.
As a STEM co-ordinator for over 20 years, I know how inspiring engineering education can be to children, opening a whole world of future opportunities for them.
Technicians and engineers will be the most employed group by 2025 but a lack of diversity in the workforce and the shortage of engineering graduates and apprentices is becoming a serious problem.
Engineering is the link between science and the economy and we need our best young people to consider this as a career.
We need to find innovative ways to get kids excited about engineering and challenge stereotypes before they become fixed. Evidence suggests that by the age of 10, young people are already making career-limiting decisions. Introducing engineering into primary schools is a good place to start building a solution.
That’s why A&P Tyne has the ambitious goal to bring engineering into primary schools and develop engineering programmes throughout the North East of England to inspire the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers to become the young engineers of the future.
As a Cornerstone Employer, education outreach is at the heart of A&P Tyne’s activities in North East England.
We have undertaken various primary school events around the region highlighting careers opportunities in engineering and to make sure children know engineering is a great choice for both boys and girls.
At our recent Engineering day at South Hylton Primary School, the students really enjoyed interactive projects within renewable engineering and the feedback from the school was fantastic.
We also recently attended a careers event at Jarrow Secondary School for all the primary schools within the area, with another due to be held next month.
A&P apprentice Liam Patterson and A&P HR Administrator Clare Knight with A&P Training Officer Jim Penketh at a primary schools careers event at Jarrow School.
Following our outreach, both girls and boys were significantly more likely to have an increased interest in engineering and science and report engineering as a potential career, which is really important in addressing the current gender bias in the industry.
Introducing engineering concepts in an engaging way to young people at primary level is effective for all students, regardless of their academic achievement level, gender, or cultural background and can lead to major improvements in student problem-solving abilities.
We believe that any project that makes young people enthusiastic about engineering is worth doing.
Students in primary school can spend weeks learning how a volcano works, and no time understanding how a submarine works. Understanding the natural world is essential, but ignoring the engineered world, which forms about 95 percent of our day to day experience, is simply wrong.
Society is led by technology, and engineers are crucial to moving technology forward. Industry, policy makers and educators need to work together to make change happen.
Our experience has been that primary schools within the North East are really keen on companies getting involved within primary education to help inspire the future of our workforce within engineering.
I would urge engineering and manufacturing companies to get more involved within primary careers and the huge benefits this can bring. Together, we can help build a generation of young engineers for the future.