Pupils to build bridges

The Engineering Experience event will see 29 Year 10 pupils from Thomas Telford School given a project brief on building a bridge.

They will be supplied with raw materials and then provide a rationale, design and plan to turn their plans into reality.

The University’s School of Engineering and the Built Environment (SEBE) has partnered with infrastructure business Morgan Est and the Smallpeice Trust, an independent charity providing programmes to promote engineering careers to young people, for the residential.

As well as the project, there will be careers talks, tours and other activities. Pupils will be staying at the University’s Telford Campus throughout.

Nidhi Shah, UK Education Liaison Officer for SEBE, has helped organise the event. She said: "We are proud to be hosting this event and glad that we’re able to provide budding engineers the opportunity to showcase their talent and work in a competitive environment."

Gemma Murphy, Head of Marketing and Development at The Smallpeice Trust said: "We are delighted to have run this course on behalf of Thomas Telford for a third year. With vacancies in the engineering sector costing the economy an estimated £76 million a year in lost productivity, it is important that we inspire the next generation of engineers, if not we will face a major skills shortage crisis in the near future."

Lee Ferriday, Learning and Development Advisor for Morgan Est, said: "We have allocated four of our own young and most talented graduate engineers to the project. We hope the youngsters will enjoy the opportunity to work alongside our 'real' Civil Engineers and in doing so gain an insight into a highly rewarding profession."

The residential will take place from June 29 to July 2. It is one of many aspiration-raising activities arranged by SEBE throughout the year.

Further information

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