Institution news
The Institution’s Education Awards Committee (EAC) worked with the Employability Team at the Faculty of Engineering, University of Leeds, to set up a pilot scheme which placed 12 engineering students with local small and medium enterprises. They wanted to focus on smaller companies to provide internships, as a means of finding ways of addressing the engineering skills gap.
Many national enterprises run established internship programs, which feed long-term graduate recruitment. However, smaller companies and undergraduates do not interact in the same way and, it is felt, opportunities for graduate employment are being missed.
Richard Gray BSc CEng FIMechE MCIWM, Chairman of the Education Awards Committee, said: “In setting up the scheme we wanted to increase the opportunities for students to gain valuable work experience, and also to encourage technology-based SMEs to engage with our universities’ engineering schools. In this respect, the results from the Leeds pilot have been hugely encouraging.”
The internship program created 12 SME work placements for engineering undergraduates for the summer period of between eight and 12 weeks. The EAC made an award to the Faculty, which was used to grant up to £2,000 to selected SMEs to encourage them to recruit students for defined project work. Companies based in the Leeds area, including LEDA, Key Engineering Solutions, Olympus Technologies and Lambert Engineering, took part. Sixty-five students applied for the 12 posts.
The funding contributed towards the cost of recruitment for a student, with the SME contributing towards the remaining salary costs (circa £2,200). The scheme was open to students at any stage in their MEng Institution-accredited course; the application and interview process was coordinated by the Faculty’s Employability Team.
Students, organisers and employers who participated were invited to One Birdcage Walk to share their experiences of the scheme and enjoy a tour of Institution headquarters.
Mike Lewis, Innovations Manager, and Roy Jewitt, Electrical Project Manager, both of Lambert Engineering, joined the event in London. Dr David Keeling MEng PhD CEng MIMechE, Managing Director of Key Engineering Solutions, also attended.
David said: “The scheme is fantastic and so useful for companies with limited resources. As a result of the project we are in the process of launching a new product!”
After working on the scheme, one student was offered a twelve-month placement, and two others were invited to return to their host companies in the future. All participants were required to submit a two-part report on their experience to the university and the Institution, describing their achievements on projects as well as mapping the competences learned.
Lloyd T Taziker spent his internship at Synthotech Ltd, in the research and development section of the company. Lloyd said: “This placement has shown me what SMEs have to offer young engineers and has changed my perception on the best way to start my engineering career.
“I have had a first-hand insight into the entire design process from conceptual design to manufacture and testing. [From working on Synthotech’s two main projects] I have learned how much designs change over short and long time periods. This has given me a clear method to approach my final year at university, regarding my industry applied project.”
Emily Timson, Business Development Manager, Employability Team in the Faculty of Engineering, said: "As a pilot this has been a great success. It has introduced SMEs to our engineering students’ capabilities; we have worked in partnership with the Institution, and helped students put their skills to use in real, working projects, which provided appropriate levels of challenge and support.
"We are looking forward to running the scheme again in 2016, and are keen to hear from SMEs in the area who are interested in taking part.”
Richard Gray added: “The EAC has over £200,000 available for distribution every year to assist members of all grades with CPD, conference attendance, volunteering and personal development. We also have awards available for schools groups and clubs.”
For more information on our awards visit Scholarships and awards or email awards@imeche.org. Or for more information about internships with the University of Leeds email E.J.Timson@leeds.ac.uk.