Joining together with the UK’s SETNET (Science, Engineering, Technology and Mathematics Network) our tunnel engineering team is involved in yet another initiative which aims to promote engineering as a career choice to schools and universities in the local community. This programme – Science and Engineering Ambassador Scheme – hopes to veer interest by providing themed Science days, formal presentations, informal discussions, mentoring, project work and careers fairs.

Another example of our enthusiasm in promoting this field is reflected in the work we did in the Women Into Science and Engineering (WISE) programme, which involved a three day engineering challenge in London to show school pupils exactly what engineering is all about. This came about after WISE challenged the Group to think of activities that would inspire the role of engineering to twenty gifted year 9 girls from Elizabeth Garrett Anderson secondary school in London’s Camden.

There wasn't a spaghetti bridge in site!A key part of the programme focused on helping the girls get to grips with the challenges of engineering at Heathrow Terminal 5 and Imperial College. They were also invited to spend a day at our Croydon office as real life consultants with the task of brainstorming solutions for flooding and congestion issues in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The students' teacher commented: “I was particularly encouraged by the fact that when we left your offices on Thursday, walking to the station, the girls were talking about what they had done over the day and how they too would like to work for Mott MacDonald in their 'posh' offices. Overall I think the three days really benefited the girls and gave them a lot of confidence.”

The Group always seeks to advance the art of engineering and critically we must encourage the next generation to do the same by capturing their attention and imagination.

YINI & QUEST

Mott MacDonald takes on Year In Industry (YINI) students each year. For the last three years our tunnel team has supported the scheme by employing a pre-university YINI student and giving him or her a full years' insight into the working place and the challenges that await following graduation. Mott MacDonald is also involved in summer placements and QUEST (Queen's Jubilee Scholarship Trust) sponsorship for students during their engineering degrees.