An education project that has been successfully inspiring primary and secondary school pupils in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil to consider careers in engineering has been given a further boost thanks to significant new funding from the Welsh Government Tech Valleys programme and the Panasonic Trust.
For the past seven years, This is Engineering: Schools – Welsh Valleys (formerly the Welsh Valleys Engineering Project) has been developing centres of excellence in STEM teaching and learning among 54 primary and secondary schools and colleges in the South Wales valleys.
The new funding of £760,000 over four years not only ensures the continued participation of all 54 schools in Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil but also means an additional 20 primary and secondary schools in Caerphilly can join the project.
Started by the Panasonic Trust and the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2018, the project has been bringing the STEM curriculum to life for pupils in schools and colleges through activities that increase their knowledge and experience of real-world engineering. Enhanced STEM teaching together with engagement with local engineering industries and an increased understanding of the different pathways into engineering careers is helping raise the aspirations of pupils and students from all backgrounds about opportunities available to them.
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “Engineering offers a wide range of exciting and rewarding career opportunities for young people. I am delighted that This is Engineering: Schools is enabling students from all backgrounds in the Welsh Valleys to learn about the career opportunities in the region and to develop the STEM skills needed to pursue them. Engineering shapes our world so it is vital that we have a profession that better reflects the communities we serve. I am optimistic that in future more young people in the Welsh Valleys will have the chance to pursue a career in engineering and go on to make a positive contribution to the economy and wider society, in South Wales and right around the world.”
Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy and Planning, Rebecca Evans, said: “Inspiring young learners to become STEM stars is a crucial part of fostering the future workforce we will need for economic prosperity. Thank you to all the businesses that have devoted their time and expertise to enriching STEM engagement via the programme.
“Our £397,000 funding contribution will help this important scheme engage with even more young people, building on the success already achieved and enhancing the impact of the ambitious Tech Valleys initiative.”
Carl Pocknell, Chair of the Panasonic Trust, said: “The Trust is pleased to continue its support of the next phase of the Welsh Valleys engineering initiative. The Trust wants to change lives. The continuation and extension of the project into schools in Caerphilly will provide opportunities for those who might not otherwise realise they have the potential and ability to pursue a career in engineering. Increasing local engineering capability and skills will help to attract new businesses to Wales as well as supporting current businesses to grow.”
Since the project was launched in 2018, more than 15,000 school pupils and 3,000 college students have participated in the Welsh Valleys project, developing and applying skills in problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork to real-life scenarios. 78% of the total primary student population and 52% of the total secondary student population have taken part in one or more STEM activities. 124 Panasonic Trust Future Engineers bursaries have been awarded to college students.
Seventeen businesses supported the employer engagement strand between 2021 and 2024, developing STEM challenge projects with teachers that focused on building careers awareness and employability skills. These projects engaged 4,650 pupils: 3,643 in primary schools, 975 in secondary schools, and 32 in special schools.
Notes for editors
- The Panasonic Trust for the further education and training of engineers is a registered charity that was established on 30 October 1984. The objective of the Trust is to extend the education and training of industrial engineers in the fields of engineering such as electronic systems engineering, environmental studies, energy and new materials. This may be achieved by the establishment and award of grant scholarships, fellowships, lectureships, competitions, prizes and awards. The Panasonic Trust have been funding the Welsh Valleys Engineering Project since its launch in 2018 and will continue to fund it, alongside the Welsh Government, allowing the Programme to continue the annual awarding of up to 15 Future Engineer scholarships to post-16 students. These students will be instrumental in supporting the employer engagement strand.
- The Tech Valleys programme is a ten-year Welsh Government commitment with Blaenau Gwent at its heart. Building on the region’s long-standing manufacturing heritage, Tech Valleys aims to capitalise on the opportunities arising from the fourth industrial revolution – particularly in the areas of 5G, battery technology, digital and cyber research and application – supporting high value, sustainable jobs, attracting investment and creating opportunities across the region. In line with the Welsh Government’s Economic Action Plan, the Tech Valleys programme has the principles of growth, fair work and decarbonisation at its heart. For further information about Tech Valleys, email: [email protected] or [email protected]
- This is Engineering First launched in 2018, This is Engineering is a multi-year campaign led by the Royal Academy of Engineering in partnership with Engineering UK and major engineering organisations. Our aim is to show more young people what engineering really looks like, and how it could be an exciting and rewarding path in the future.
This is Engineering: Schools – Welsh Valleys is grateful for the support of the following businesses in this next phase of the programme: Vishay, Safran Seats, General Dynamics, Morgan Sindall, Norgine, Ogi.
We wish to thank the following employers for their previous involvement in the programme: Panasonic, Continental Teves, Concrete Canvas, Thales/National Digital Exploitation Centre, Zimmer Biomet, Tata Steel, Peter Jones (ILG) with JC Moulding, Wild Connect, Lightsource BP, ORE Catapult, and Future Valleys Construction.