March 2019

An inspirational competition promoting engineering as a career of choice to young people has been launched at Teesside University. Funded by Tees Valley Combined Authority, the Primary Engineer “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” competition will link primary and secondary schools across Teesside with local engineering firms. Last year it engaged with over 37,000 primary and secondary school students nationally to get them interested in engineering by asking the question and encouraging schools to work with engineers to mentor pupils as they answer it. The competition celebrates the ingenuity of children from 3 to 19 years of age and all entries are graded by engineers with the winning designs selected by an industry-led judging panel. A special event and public exhibition will be held at Teesside University in the Summer with prizes awarded to winners in each year group. Entries will also be displayed from every school taking part. Schools from across the region are encouraged to register and encourage pupil entries now. Launched by Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen, the competition demonstrates Teesside University’s and Primary Engineer’s commitment to provide young people from all backgrounds the opportunity to acquire the skills they need for a rewarding career in engineering, science and technology. The Government says that over 200,000 new engineers are required per year to meet the demands of modern society. Mayor, Ben Houchen said: “Tees Valley has a proud history and very bright future in engineering. Many Tees Valley companies are leading the way in technology, science and cutting-edge innovation. Tees Valley Combined Authority are not only looking to provide business and infrastructure support, but through funding initiatives including the Primary Engineer Leaders Award competition we can celebrate and inspire the young people of Tees Valley to become our engineers, scientists and technologists of the future.” Dr. Susan Scurlock, MBE founder of Primary Engineer said: “This is our first year of running the competition in Teesside. Given the area’s strong heritage in manufacturing and production we are confident that we’ll uncover creativity and engineering talent in the many schools across the region.” To enter the competition schools can visit: www.leadersawards.com JCB celebrates record number of contracts for apprentices A record-breaking group of JCB apprentices had two reasons to celebrate at the launch of National Apprenticeships Week. A total of 79 apprentices were awarded their apprenticeship certificates at the same time as getting contracts of employment with the Staffordshire-based digger maker. The group is the biggest in the history of JCB to graduate as Level 2 and 3 apprentices in a single year. They received their awards from JCB directors at a special graduation ceremony at JCB’s World Headquarters, Rocester. JCB has a long history of recruiting apprentices and this year marks 55 years since the first intake of nine completed their training and were presented with their apprenticeship certificates by company founder Joseph Cyril Bamford. JCB chief executive Graeme Macdonald said: “New talent joining the business is fundamental to JCB’s future growth and success; our business is growing rapidly and the apprentices are an important part of our plans for the long term. “Over the past five years JCB has invested £30 million into its training programmes with more than 700 new recruits joining the business as apprentices or graduates. Their commitment to learning has been exemplary and their hard work has paid off with the award of full-time contracts.” JCB director of learning and development, Max Jeffery said: “The apprentices who have been awarded full-time contracts range from age 18 to 38 and include a former professional rugby player, pub landlord and cleaner as well former students from the JCB Academy. “The diversity of this year’s graduating apprentices shows this is a great route into a new and promising career – no matter what your background, age or experience.” News 0 6 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk March 2019 Competition seeks engineers of the future