UK Power Networks promotes engineering careers at school level
4 March 2015
Promoting the careers available to the next generation of would-be engineers has achieved buy-in at board-level at UK Power Networks (UPN).
Thu, 5 Mar 2015
Promoting the careers available to the next generation of would-be engineers has achieved buy-in at board-level at UK Power Networks.
According to the energy distributor’s talent acquisition partner Emma Barbour, the shortage of school children studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at GCSE level is so acute, the board of the power company is keen to promote the industry at school level.
For the second year running, UK Power Networks will host an area of the ‘Think Power’ zone at The Big Bang careers fair at Birmingham’s NEC [National Exhibition Centre] from 11 to 14 March.
UK Power Networks engineers will be on hand to talk to school children aged from four to secondary school level about the benefits of studying STEM subjects.
Asked as to the business case for the company's electrical engineers taking time out from work to attend such an event, Barbour told Recruiter the group’s board has already bought into the idea of selling STEM subjects to school children.
“I’ve never had to sell the idea. The board are already engaged with the concept of inspiring young people to hopefully pursue a career in engineering or something STEM related.
“The main focus is not for people to say ‘fantastic I’ll go and apply’, it’s about inspiring people to think more broadly about their career options,” she added.
Last year, the group’s graduate engineers were on the company stand but this year the firm’s strategy for the event is to demonstrate that people who study STEM subjects can have a variety of different careers.
Workers on the stand will come from the organisation’s engineer development programme (EDP). Programme participants have STEM skills and are working towards a career in electrical engineering. Their professional backgrounds range from ex-military such as army, aviation and naval engineers, to civilian domestic electricians.
According to the energy distributor’s talent acquisition partner Emma Barbour, the shortage of school children studying science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) subjects at GCSE level is so acute, the board of the power company is keen to promote the industry at school level.
For the second year running, UK Power Networks will host an area of the ‘Think Power’ zone at The Big Bang careers fair at Birmingham’s NEC [National Exhibition Centre] from 11 to 14 March.
UK Power Networks engineers will be on hand to talk to school children aged from four to secondary school level about the benefits of studying STEM subjects.
Asked as to the business case for the company's electrical engineers taking time out from work to attend such an event, Barbour told Recruiter the group’s board has already bought into the idea of selling STEM subjects to school children.
“I’ve never had to sell the idea. The board are already engaged with the concept of inspiring young people to hopefully pursue a career in engineering or something STEM related.
“The main focus is not for people to say ‘fantastic I’ll go and apply’, it’s about inspiring people to think more broadly about their career options,” she added.
Last year, the group’s graduate engineers were on the company stand but this year the firm’s strategy for the event is to demonstrate that people who study STEM subjects can have a variety of different careers.
Workers on the stand will come from the organisation’s engineer development programme (EDP). Programme participants have STEM skills and are working towards a career in electrical engineering. Their professional backgrounds range from ex-military such as army, aviation and naval engineers, to civilian domestic electricians.
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