Inspire Engineering
Introduction
Inspire Engineering is part of our industry backed Enjoyment to Employment Programme which tackles the engineering and green skills shortage in the UK transport sector by turning childhood enthusiasm into future careers.
Taking place at our Museum Depot in Acton, with a wider virtual offer in development, Inspire Engineering sessions introduce students to real-world engineering concepts and connects them with engineers from across our corporate supporters, including Transport for London, Thales GTS, telent, and ABM.
These interactive and experiential sessions are an opportunity for secondary-age school students to get curious about careers in engineering and transport.
Booking a session
Inspire Engineering sessions are available for Key Stage 3 students in person at the Depot and virtually for students who can’t visit us on site. Find out more and book a session on our Key Stage 3 schools page.
Inspire Engineering video
What is Inspire Engineering?
What is Inspire Engineering? Taking inspiration from the history of engineering and innovation on display at our Depot in Acton, students can put what they learn in the classroom about science, maths, technology and engineering into practice with our interactive STEM activities.
By exploring how things work and solving real-world problems and challenges faced by engineers, Inspire Engineering sessions encourage children to be curious, creative, collaborative and critical thinkers who are confident to experiment.
A chance to meet engineers
We know from research that young people often believe careers in engineering are ‘dirty’. But meeting real-world engineers can have a huge impact on positively changing perceptions.
A key element of an Inspire Engineering day is the chance to meet and talk to STEM Ambassadors from leading transport companies including Transport for London, Thales GTS, telent and ABM.
Meeting real-world, professional engineers empowers students to be inquisitive, asking questions about the interests, skills, experiences and qualifications needed to become an engineer and gives young people an idea of what life is really like as an engineer.
Pupils also receive a CREST Discovery Award, from the British Science Association, at the end of the Inspire Engineering day at the Depot, providing a concrete accreditation to include on their CVs and apprenticeship applications.
I really enjoyed when we worked in teams to build our idea of a perfect city because it taught us key skills like teamwork, sustainability, managing decisions, and solving problems!
My favourite part of the day was the Sustainable Cities challenge; it really helped me to get a practical view of what real-life engineering is like.
Year 8 students from Madani Girls’ School
A skills shortage
The transport industry is facing a major skills shortage – particularly as demand for new green skills grows too.
Programmes like Inspire Engineering are making a difference by showing young people how careers in transport and engineering are tackling the climate crisis.
Since its launch, 320 Inspire Engineering sessions have brought together over 10,000 students with 1,004 real-world engineers through 4,859 hours of volunteering which have positively contributed to changing perceptions of engineering by 82%.
With thanks to our industry partners, Inspire Engineering is having a positive impact in changing perceptions of careers in transport and engineering. Over the past year, we have seen a 57% increase in female participants viewing careers in engineering as desirable following their visit to the Depot. Inspire Engineering also positively tackles stereotypes about careers in transport and engineering, with 76% of participants reporting that the day showed them that careers in engineering are for all genders.
Related content
Our Key Stage 3 sustainability-inspired sessions give students a chance to meet engineers, undertake challenges and gain an insight into the world of work.
Working with the transport industry, we’re inspiring children and young people to be curious about STEM to become tomorrow's engineers
Our Route into Work courses are free courses to guide young candidates through apprenticeship application processes. Our courses are designed in partnership with employers to help young Londoners into apprenticeships in the transport industry.
