Tomorrow’s Engineers Week 2024, hosted by EngineeringUK (11–15 November), is set to spark a nationwide wave of enthusiasm among young people aged 11 to 14 with an exhilarating celebration of engineering and technology careers.
This year’s theme, ‘Power up your passion’, emphasises the diverse opportunities in engineering and technology that align with their interests and passions, showcasing exciting pathways within the sector to inspire the next generation of engineers.
Creative careers
A survey of over 2,000 young people, at the 2024 Big Bang Fair, (the UK’s biggest STEM event for young people) found that 64% of young people are particularly motivated by careers aligned with their passions, and a notable 45% are drawn to roles that foster creativity.
The survey findings underscore the importance of engaging young people in engineering and technology by tapping into their motivations and demonstrating how their passions can lead to fulfilling careers in these areas.
“We want to see students explore how their unique talents can shape the future of engineering and technology.”
Dr Hilary Leevers, chief executive, EngineeringUK
Careers in engineering and technology are extremely diverse and draw on a range of skills such as problem solving, creativity, teamwork, communication as well as STEM skills. For instance, software development for gaming draws on problem-solving and programming skills combined with creativity to develop new game mechanics, graphics, and interactive storytelling.
This blend of technical skills and creativity shows how engineering and technology careers can align perfectly with personal interests, inspiring young people from all backgrounds to pursue paths they are passionate about.
Supporting young people in navigating engineering careers and challenging misconceptions is critical:
- Just 16% of girls think engineering is suitable for them (Science Education Tracker, EngineeringUK 2023).
- 57% of 13- to17-year-olds know little about post-secondary options (UCAS Project Next Generation research, 2024).
- There has been a 34% decline in engineering/manufacturing technologies apprenticeships, alongside insufficient support for applications (UCAS Project Next Generation research, 2024).
- Just 18% of first-year engineering and technology undergraduates are women (EngineeringUK, 2023).
Teachers and career leaders need more support than ever:
- Only 43% of young people report taking part in a STEM activity (other than a lesson) at school in the last year (Science Education Tracker EngineeringUK, Royal Society, 2023).
- 26% of students said they had wanted to secure STEM-related work experience but had been unable to do so (Science Education Tracker EngineeringUK, 2023).
- 46% of career advisers say funding is a barrier to STEM provision and time constraints are also a real issue (Advancing STEM careers provision in England, 2024, EngineeringUK).
- Career adviser confidence is only 24% for apprenticeships, compared to 94% for university applications (UCAS Project Next Generation research, 2024).
Free online resources
During Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, teachers can access a range of flexible, free resources available for download on the Tomorrow’s Engineers Week website.
These resources, which include assemblies, lesson plans, a ‘Day in the life’ short film series, and ‘Match your passion’ panel, are designed to help young people explore how their interests can lead to careers in engineering and technology.
‘Day in the life’ films
The ‘Day in the life’ film series offers behind-the-scenes insights into the daily work of real-world, early-career engineers, showcasing roles from various engineering sectors.
Each short film is a downloadable resource that teachers can deliver how they like, whether through the Tomorrow’s Engineers Week lesson plan, integrating a single film into an existing lesson plan, showing multiple films throughout the week during form time or PSHE lessons, or using them as part of a whole-school assembly.
‘Match your passion’ panel
The ‘Match your passion’ panel will feature early-career experts and engineers who will share their personal experiences, offer tailored advice, and provide career-matching insights in response to students’ questions submitted through the Tomorrow’s Engineers Week website.
The submitted questions and interests will be forwarded to the panellists, who will respond with personalised guidance and job-matching suggestions. Throughout the week, these responses will be posted on the Tomorrow’s Engineers website, allowing students to gain real-world insights and career advice directly from engineers working in the field.
“I believe students will find these resources particularly engaging. They invite students to focus on themselves and think about their own passions and interests, sparking thoughts about potential career paths that align with their unique passions.”
Ms Watson, design, technology and engineering teacher
