Thales in the UK has entered into a partnership with Primary Engineer to bring engineering into the heart of the classroom and inspire the next generation of engineers
With 50% of engineering firms reportedly finding it difficult to recruit and retain those with the correct skills and knowledge, Thales recognises the importance of reaching young people at school age, to encourage them to consider careers in engineering and develop their skills from an early age. This is why the company has become the latest national partner for the Primary Engineers Leaders Award.
Despite an increase in STEM undergraduates, 40% of employers are still reporting a shortage of graduates being one of the key barriers to recruitment – 186,000 skilled Engineers are needed annually until 2024 to plug the skills gap.
The annual UK-wide initiative, asks the question ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’ and encourages pupils to identify problems in the world and come up with creative ideas – embedding creative problem solving as a key part of being an engineer.
The competition, which is open to all primary and secondary schools across the UK, looks to encourage and grow diverse young talent. Thales’ technology and engineering professionals will be on-hand to motivate pupils and help design their solutions to better our future.
Alex Creswell, CEO of Thales in the UK, says: “We’re thrilled to be a national partner for this competition. Our team is looking forward to mentoring pupils during their journey and experiencing what the minds of tomorrow will come up with in response to some of the world’s most critical issues. It’s an excellent opportunity to inspire young people and help build some of the practical and cognitive skills they need to pursue an engineering career.”
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