Roadshows inspire next generation of engineers

YOUNG people in the North-East have been given an insight into engineering careers with a series of roadshows.
The Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB) schools tour, ‘Be a Part of Engineering Construction,’ aims to help attract 60,000 more people into the sector over the next ten years.
The £16bn UK engineering construction industry leads Europe and is second only to the USA in the world. It is responsible for the infrastructure involved in a number of engineering fields including oil and gas, power generation and the nuclear industry.
The schools tour, aimed at 13 to 16-year-olds, gives students the opportunity to find out about the career routes available and the apprenticeship opportunities on offer.
Schools visited included Beaumont Hill Academy in Darlington and Darlington School of Mathematics & Science (DSMS) amongst 17 across the North-East.
The roadshow uses interactive presentations, multi-media and celebrity guests to engage with the students and to talk to them about the many benefits of starting a career in the industry.
ECITB chief executive David Edwards said: “The ECITB’s Schools Tour initiative is designed to raise the awareness of engineering construction careers.
“It is an innovative and exciting way to engage with young people and I am delighted the ECITB is able to showcase the industry in this way.
“The engineering construction industry is in the position to be able to offer exciting and well paid careers to young people.
“Our latest forecasts show that a 30 per cent growth in manpower is needed to attract 60,000 more skilled workers, across all our sectors over the next ten years. It is vital to the future of engineering construction in this country that we raise awareness of the industry with young people.”
The ECITB is a charitable body, funded by employers from the industry, to secure engineering construction skills.