As part of the deployment of our Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy, we are continuing to work in partnership with Queen’s University, Belfast.
The overall aim of the partnership is to encourage more school children to consider choosing the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects as GCSE and A-Levels at key arterial points in their education. Continued study of the STEM subjects is a key area of focus for academics following a Government report which identified them as 'strategically important and vulnerable subjects'. Over the past number of years, there have been concerns over the declining numbers choosing STEM subjects. This could possibly have an adverse effect on the amount of people pursuing a career in, for example, Engineering in the future. Raising awareness of the importance of studying the STEM subjects, as well as highlighting the exciting career opportunities which can result from this, is essential to ensure we have a future talent pipeline for the business. To this end, our facilities located in Northern Ireland, with the support of the parent company's Foundation, established a three-year innovative partnership with Queen’s University, which we are now in the second year of implementation.
To date this year we have been involved in a number of events. The second year of the programme kicked off with an Engineering parents evening held in the Great Hall at Queen's University. The aim of this event was to share information on engineering as a career choice and help inform students of the subjects they would need to consider to pursue this career. Over 200 people attended this event. In February, a group of 17 students took part in the Simulated Work Environment as part of Engineer's Week and at the end of March, four schools attended a Pathways to Professions Events again held in the Great Hall at Queen's University.
Each event is targeted at a different age group who will soon be making important decisions on their subject choices. As the partner host we have the opportunity to talk about our company and the many opportunities we have to offer. Employees kindly volunteered their time to talk to students about their job role and the subjects they studied at school which have helped them progress their career.
View more information about Careers Opportunities with us.
