School pupils steam into exciting careers at college showcase

Pupils aged 14 and 15 across Warwickshire and Leicestershire enjoyed construction challenges with Winvic, building mini electric vehicles and steering them over an obstacle course with Jaguar Land Rover, trying out the controls inside a Tesla car, and climbing aboard a Wincanton HGV cab at a science, technology, engineering, the arts and maths (STEAM) showcase hosted by North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College.

The pupils were challenged with a BATAK reflex reaction test from the RAF, a Lego® building task from BAM Construction and taking apart and re-building an electric vehicle charger from FMS UK Group. Also offering careers inspiration at the event were Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership NHS Trust and the Local Health Careers Hub the Army, the Navy and the Fire Service, Coventry University and the Electric Revolution Skills Hub.

Debra Okojie, Control Systems Engineer from Jaguar Land Rover said, “We have set up our challenge to give the pupils a chance to build their own mini electric car and try to drive it. We’re determined to show that engineering is a highly creative subject where you need to use your imagination.”

Jacob Vidotto, Trainee Quantity Surveyor from Winvic Construction Ltd said, “Our challenges involve building a wall using paper triangles and learning the principles of how weight is carried in civil engineering by using paper cups, cardboard, and dried pasta. Whatever materials you use, the principles are the same! We were happy to support this event as we are keen to showcase the range of careers in the construction, many of which are high-tech and low carbon.”

The event was designed to equip young people with information and skills to pursue a future within a STEAM career and was fully inclusive to enable pupils with special educational needs and disabilities to take part in the challenges and demonstrations. Impartial advice and guidance was provided on the best routes into the careers of their choice.

Tesla service manager Jayne Trueman said, “We want to attract new entrants to our workforce and demonstrate that women can have great careers in the automotive sector too. The livery on the promotional vehicles we have brought here today highlights our commitment to diversity.”

Simon Shepherd, Director of the Centre for Low Carbon Propulsion Systems at Coventry University said, “We are working with the Electric Revolution Skills Hub on outreach work to showcase opportunities to work within automotive engineering. It is critical that we engage individuals at a young age as they are starting to form ideas about careers. We want to influence a positive mindset on engineering to boost the future talent pipeline.”

Marion Plant, OBE FCGI, Principal and Chief Executive of NWSLC said, “This event has provided a fantastic opportunity for so many pupils to meet potential future employers and get a taste of the type of work in which they could be engaged. We’re grateful that so many partners and employers have come together to support our careers showcase which is designed to inspire the workforce of the future. Thanks to this initiative, we have been able to welcome pupils from many different schools who have benefited from the insight of businesses and brands that will rely on them for the future of their workforce development.”

Applications are still being taken for courses starting in September 2023 and it is easy to apply online.