Outreach

Download your poster: How do I become an engineer?

How do I become an engineer?

There are lots of different ways to become an engineer. Let's think about what engineers do and what skills they need.

Download your poster: Pathways into Engineering for KS3 Students.

There are lots of different ways to become an engineer. Here are a few key things to keep in mind.

Picking your GCSEs

Pathways after GCSE

What do engineers do?

Engineers are tackling climate change, equipping doctors with life-saving tools, and sending rockets to the far reaches of space. Even the clothes you're wearing have been engineered!

Download your poster: Pathways into Engineering for KS4 Students.

Thinking about engineering as a career? There are lots of ways to become an engineer. Here are a few options to consider.

Pathways after GCSE

In the workplace

University

Scholarships and bursaries can reduce the cost of access.

Real-world engineering

Engineers apply science to understand problems, then design practical solutions.

Download your poster: Pathways into Engineering for post-16 students.

There are many different pathways into engineering. Here are some things to keep in mind.

Engineering at university

Scholarships and bursaries can reduce the cost of access for anybody.

Career engineering

Engineers are on the frontline in the fight against climate change. They arm doctors with life-saving tools and enable you to make video-calls from anywhere. Even your clothes have been engineered!

In November 2023, we attended the annual Careers Fair at UTCN (University Technical College Norfolk), a pioneering school dedicated to engineering, health and technology. Students from Year 10 to Year 13 had the chance to discuss possible career pathways with our academics and technicians. We also brought along our squad of footballing robots, which students could pilot with their smartphones, giving them some exciting hands-on experience.

It even made the papers!

We were thrilled to return to the Norwich Science Festival in February 2024. Our interactive stand was based on ongoing research around bionic implants to help people regain bladder control. The stand included a giant model of a bladder which visitors could inflate with a pump, demonstrating the importance of sensing, communication and decision making not only for humans but for robots too.

Our second annual Scrapbot Olympics took place on 05 March 2024. This year's event saw 10 teams from five Norfolk secondary schools build their own Scrapbots using robotics kits developed in-house in our engineering facility, Productivity East. The students joined us on campus to put their bots to the test in events like sumo, hungry hippos, pinball, and an obstacle course. The teams were also challenged to create a poster detailing how they built their Scrapbots, reflecting on their process, and identifying possible improvements.

After a manic day of fights, feuds, and technical faults, a champion was named: Robert the Robot from Nicholas Hammond Academy. Congratulations to all our teams for their creativity and teamwork.

We provided groups of year 7-9 students with a kit of electronics. They developed their problem solving skills and harnessed their creativity to build their robotic Olympian, with the support of our wonderful undergraduate students. We then invited all the competing school groups to Productivity East to challenge their creations.

We delivered an accredited continuous professional development session for secondary school staff. Attendees learnt how to motivate their curriculum and inspire their students through the big societal challenges engineers are working to tackle. Filled with practical activities, fun demonstrations, and a robotics and 3-D printing tour, our session proved to be inspiring.

We were proud to have engaged with so many families at our exhibition space. We exhibited a robotic arm to fish with, a swarm of robots to play with, and Magnus’ flying cups to take home alongside engineers keen to discuss educational/career pathways or the latest technological innovations.

We gave 25 year 10 students the chance to learn more about studying Engineering and what pursuing a career in engineering could look like. Students spent a week in our state-of-the art hub, Productivity East, working in groups to tackle real-world problems posed by people currently working in industry and supported by our wonderful undergraduate students.

We joined the world in celebrating women in engineering by creating resource packs and sending these to schools. Via our social media campaign, we highlighted engineering role models and guidance on how to become an ally.