~ IChemE’s showcase presents career opportunities to young people across West Midlands ~
To help young people realise the exciting career possibilities available to them in chemical and process engineering, the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) hosted DiscoverChemEngLIVE at its Rugby head office. The annual event on 13 November featured companies and organisations from a range of industries where chemical engineering is vital such as food and drink, water treatment, clean technology and advanced manufacturing.
The event saw 400 local secondary-school students receive an interactive session with specialist companies such as Atkins Realis, Severn Trent and Carlsberg Britvic alongside university teams from Swansea, Teesside, Nottingham and Oxford, to help grow their awareness of careers in chemical and process engineering.
The event also attracted local MP John Slinger, Mayor of Rugby Cllr Barbara Brown, and IChemE President Professor Raffaella Ocone, underscoring its significance in inspiring the next generation of engineers.
There is significant demand for engineering skills in the UK. Currently engineering roles make up 25 per cent of UK job vacancies, despite only 19 per cent of the workforce being employed in the sector. Highlighting the opportunities the sector provides to young people, therefore, is crucial in addressing the long-term skills gap in the sector. Demand is also expected to rise for skills, as the UK Climate Change Committee estimates that as many as 725,000 new jobs could be created by 2030 for the transition to net zero. DiscoverChemEngLIVE allows younger people to benefit from the experience provided by working chemical and process engineers.
At the event, Natalia Bieniewska from exhibitor Xodus Group, a Global Energy Consultancy firm, explained why they took part: “We’re here to encourage the younger generation to learn more about chemical engineering and to become chemical engineers. To show them that engineering is not just about a hard hat and a high vis, it is more varied than that and anyone is capable of doing it.”
“DiscoverChemEngLIVE is just one aspect of IChemE’s efforts to attract young people into the chemical engineering sector from across all backgrounds irrespective of ethnicity, socioeconomic background, or gender ,” explains Jo Cox, Head of Young People’s and Student Engagement at IChemE. “This includes school engagement work including working with volunteers, schools, universities, and a virtual work experience programme which has seen over 5,000 young people register since its launch nine months ago.
“We are so pleased to be able to run this event for a second year. It is clear from the range of activities and demonstrations on offer that a career in chemical and process engineering offers a wealth of opportunities; with the changes introduced by the Department for Education with regards to modern work experience and careers guidance, it is especially important for employers to support these types of events to help schools deliver their careers education strategies. .”
Dr Rachel Bibby, Director of Member Experience and Professional Learning at IChemE, added: “I was delighted to see such a diverse range of employers and universities showcasing the range of opportunities available in the chemical engineering sector. It was great to see so many young people engaging with demonstrations and activities and asking so many questions. A huge thanks to all the employer and academic partners who supported this fantastic event, and to all the IChemE staff and members who volunteered to make the day such a huge success.”
The event in Rugby is part of a series of specialist local events being planned by IChemE across the country. Other DiscoverChemEng events in the North West and Merseyside and the North East will receive employers and engineers from specialist fields including engineering biology, clean energy, pharmaceuticals, maritime and refining offering their experience to younger people.
To find out more about IChemE’s outreach work to help develop the chemical engineers of tomorrow, visit its website.
