Case Study: How Pupil Engineering Engagement can lead to an Industry Career
Introduction
In honor of National Apprenticeship Week, we are highlighting how exposure to STEM can transform a student’s future.
This case study follows Elliott’s journey, from participation in the annual Primary Engineer engineering competition to securing an engineering apprenticeship, showcasing the powerful impact of pupil engineering engagement and a partnership with Primary Engineer.
Why they got involved?
When Elliott, a Year 12 student at St Katherine’s School and Sixth Form, entered the Leaders Award Competition in 2023 he didn’t know how transformative it would be and the doors it would open.
Our ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’ Leaders Award Competition is a UK-wide competition open to all pupils aged 3–19.
Pupils are tasked with interviewing an engineer before being asked to identify a problem in the world around them and coming up with a creative, engineered solution to that problem.
All entries are read and graded by engineering professionals, with every single pupil who takes part receiving a named and graded certificate. The competition culminates in exciting regional public exhibitions and award ceremonies, where teachers, pupils, their families and industry professionals are invited to celebrate ingenuity and create lasting memories.
Elliott’s invention, the SMARTH—a sophisticated smart hygiene system featuring temperature sensors and a waterproof control tablet—caught the eye of the judges. After winning a medal at the 2023 South West England Award Ceremony, his design was selected by the University of the West of England (UWE) Bristol to be built as a working prototype over the following 2023-24 academic year.
Primary Engineer and UWE have been working together since 2021, hosting the judging day, the regional award ceremony and public exhibition and being a prototype partner.
Ramin Amali, Dean and Head of School of Engineering at UWE Bristol commented “The University of the West of England, Bristol partners with Primary Engineer on their Leaders Award competition to inspire young people to think like engineers by creating inventions to solve real-world problems. UWE’s involvement as a partner highlights our commitment to encouraging the next generation of engineers, allowing students to explore engineering concepts and interact with professionals in the field.”
When the prototype was unveiled in 2024 at the South West England Award Ceremony, Elliott met education and industry leaders representatives, connections that opened the door to site visits, mentoring, and conversations about apprenticeship routes he hadn’t previously considered.
Elliott successfully applied for and secured an apprenticeship with GKN Aerospace.
John Watton, Technical Capability Director at GKN Aerospace, noted “GKN Aerospace have been partnering with Primary Engineer since 2021 during which time we have had the privilege of engaging in many amazing and fun Primary Engineer led STEM activities. Elliot’s story is a fantastic example of how a successful and collaborative partnership can lead to a really positive outcome, inspiring the next generation of engineers is crucial for the continued success of our industry – GKN Aerospace is delighted to have Elliot as one of our team!”
Reflecting on his journey, Elliott shared:
“I was so grateful to my DT teacher Mr Fey at St Katherine’s for encouraging me to enter the competition. It was great fun but also very challenging to come up with an idea that would be useful to people as well as practical. The best part of it for me was that I got introduced to GKN Aerospace as part of it. I didn’t know much about them before the competition, but they talked to me a lot about their apprenticeship programme and I was lucky enough to get a place on it. I started in September 2024 and am really enjoying it. It’s a great way into the practical side of engineering and I’m earning money while getting started on my career.”
Conclusion
This story highlights the way this competition paves the way for young people to have a career in engineering and being able to connect with industry and university professionals helps create a meaningful impact and shape their future.
Get Involved
Share your experience: Huge thank you to Elliott and GKN Aerospace for sharing these valuable insights. If you have worked with us and want to share your experiences, contact us on marketing@Primaryengineer.com
Learn more: If you want to learn more about how we deliver impactful outreach the Primary Engineer way, speak to us today.