Andrew Norris’ Post

Primary Engineer session beginning in the Engineering Theatre at Rail Live! Come and see us today and tomorrow here, and at the Porterbrook marquee, whilst also keeping an eye out for the primary pupils visiting the site!

Always love hearing from teachers on the impact of our programmes. Amazing to hear that a child who was reluctant to come to school was looking forward to working on their build. Sounds like another engineer in the making!

Last week was my first Award Ceremony and Exhibition for the Primary Engineer If you were an engineer, what would you do? Leaders Award Competition at Coventry University. It's always a treat to meet the children behind the entries and this was certainly the case when one young lady arrived and I realised she was the one who had invented a star catcher because her arms weren't long enough to reach.... I was then able to explain that her entry was one of the judges favourites during whilst her parents smiles got bigger and bigger! This took place at the beginning of the afternoon and at the end the life saving lampost prototype was unveiled to the approval of another young lady who submitted her entry to last years competition. Celebrating these ideas and the young people who come up with them is what the competition is all about. Thanks to Patricia Ashman and all at Coventry University for hosting the event and presenting awards alongside Mark Halstead BSc(Hons) MBCS Thanks also to our regional funder Executive Network Group supported by Safer Highways alongside our national partners DXC Technology RAF Charitable Trust Nippon Gases National Grid Thales and Boeing Chris Rowlands Kevin Robinson Nerea Etura Luque

When explaining our judging panels for the If you were an engineer, what would you do? Leaders Award Competition we often say that you laugh and cry throughout the course of the day. Yesterday at the South Central England Judging day hosted by Routeco it was all about the laughs and I think there might be a few of the judges with sore ribs this morning 😂 The entries often tackle very serious topics and we had plenty of those yesterday but some times the entry or the child's turn of phrase can't help but raise a smile and sometimes a full on belly laugh. If you bump into any of the judges below in the next few weeks ask them if they have any suggestions for cleaning footwear.... Thanks to Routeco for funding the South Central England region and to our national partners Thales and DXC Technology whose representatives attended the session. The award ceremony and exhibition is coming up on the 2nd July at MK College more details through this link https://lnkd.in/eA-Hsfi3 David Amps Damian Spall James Eames Lesley Aukett Daniel Green Gary Buckingham Gary Herbert MIET Lynn Siggins Barrie Flemming Michaela Coxon Amelia W.

Last week I was was pleased to host the Primary Engineer If you were an engineer, what would you do? Leaders Award Competition in Cardiff for judging panel for Wales. Last year with the support of our funding partner in Wales the Royal Air Force (RAF) the teaching resources were translated into Welsh for use in all schools across the country. The entries were as fantastic as always with one judge stating that they would "buy that idea immediately!" when discussing one of the winners. It was also wonderful to hear judges comment on entries which had been designed for domestic use but had a clear industry application. Details of the the Awards Ceremony and Exhibition taking place on the 24th June, can be found through the link below and is open to all! https://lnkd.in/eEH_gBDX Thanks to all the judges for their insight and good humour! Rob Woods OBE Lee Park Daniel Jones Gareth Barham SFHEA, MCSD Catherine Tryfona Leon Directo Asha Yassin Kelly Edwards Katie Hathaway David Powell Dana Williams

Last week I was close to home for the Lancashire judging panel for the Primary Engineer If you were an engineer, what would you do? Leaders Award Competition hosted by University of Central Lancashire As always there were some fantastic entries solving problems found in DIY, personal care, homelessness, camping, dentistry and social care amongst many others. It is always wonderful to bring together judges from our funders and let the conversations begin. I wasn’t expecting such a spirited discussion on the sky, where it ends and where it exists! Thanks to our regional funders in attendance from Civil Aviation Authority and Senior Aerospace Weston and the national funder DXC Technology The awards and exhibition is coming up soon on the 20th June! https://lnkd.in/eAA5CcxV Damian M. Sophie Jones, MBA Harry Pointon Richard Armitage Ethan Armett Sarah Baker Alan Cross Simon Ebo Joe Smerdon Dr. Parthiv Kavi Kirijen Vengadasalam Sandeep Kadam Alison Robinson

A fantastic morning yesterday in Stoke On Trent with Jason Howlett from GivEnergy This was the first year we have worked with GivEnergy and GivEducation on the Primary Engineer Construction programme and the builds produced by the pupils were first rate. It was also brilliant to hear the impact of the Construction programme on the pupils. One teacher had been inspired to include much more engineering in her curriculum due to the excitement and interest shown by her primary aged pupils. Another spoke of the difference the program made to a pupil with additional needs who had found a new focus and love of learning through their work on the programme! Thanks again to Joe Basketts and all at GivEducation who supported the programme.

The second event for me last week was the East Central England judging panel in the Primary Engineer If you were an engineer, what would you do? Leaders Award Competition hosted by University of Lincoln The panel was mix of returning and first time judges from our national partners Nippon Gases UK & Ireland and DXC Technology alongside regional funder Siemens Energy and University of Lincoln plus invited guests. A real bonus for the panel was having Nick James from Nippon Gases who had been interviewed by one of the schools in the region and a number of the entries cited him as their engineering inspiration! The engineers like Nick who visit schools and inspire pupils in secondary and primary school are fundamental to the competition. We firmly believe that introducing pupils to engineering professionals as early as possible in their education is the key to closing the skills gap and creating a more diverse engineering sector. A fantastic day was had and entries focused on many interesting subjects including food testing, transportation, allergy safety, vehicle safety and AI. We now look forward to the Award Ceremony and Exhibition on the 2nd July back at the University of Lincoln more details can be found through this link https://lnkd.in/ew6TRXf5 June Wass Nick James Nicole Fielding Alex Borland James Bright Rick Hackney BEng MSc CEng MIMechE Lexi Page Graves Kaye Robinson Edward W. Alex Nightingale