Sponsors

Renishaw supports Future Brunels educational programme

Leading engineering and scientific technology company, Renishaw, supports the pioneering Future Brunels programme developed by the ss Great Britain Trust.

The five-year rolling programme, inspired by the work of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, selects a group of talented and motivated pupils to work on science and engineering based projects and find innovative solutions to real-world problems. The ultimate aim of the project is to encourage participants to pursue a career in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).

Every year, the Future Brunels programme selects 12 new students from four Bristol secondary schools based on their potential and passion for science and engineering. As a corporate academy supporter, Renishaw aids the Future Brunels programme as well as other projects at the Brunel Institute and ss Great Britain Trust.

Renishaw hosts an annual interactive workshop for the Future Brunels to enlighten the pupils on the importance of highly accurate measurement. Additionally, the students undertake a hands-on activity such as making homopolar motors and ‘toothbrush racers'.

Renishaw also provides a tour of its impressive headquarters site and an introduction to its broad range of products, including those for dental and neurological applications, enabling the students to gain an overview of what Renishaw does and what a career in engineering can offer.

“The Future Brunels programme is a unique experience and a good way of exploring the wide range of STEM career options early on,” explained Julie Collins, Education Liaison Manager of Renishaw.

“Renishaw's involvement in the project provides real-life examples of the kinds of rewarding engineering careers young people can pursue,” explained Louisa Pharoah, Director of Development of the ss Great Britain Trust. “Renishaw is an ideal partner because it shares our vision of promoting STEM careers as attractive options to young people.”

Renishaw gives 108 school students a taste for engineering

Global engineering company Renishaw opened the doors of its Gloucestershire headquarters to 108 school students for work experience in July 2016. The students took on a series of engineering projects to get a taste of what a career in the field entails.

A total of 96 Year 10 and 12 students took part in this year's engineering work experience programme with a further twelve taking part in a separate coding and software engineering week-long scheme. Over the rest of the year, Renishaw also offers commercial work experience opportunities in its marketing, finance, legal and sales departments.

This year, the first group of engineering work experience students undertook a project to design a magnetic levitation track and carriage. In the following week, the second group of students were tasked with designing a versatile measurement instrument accurate to 0.5 mm or better. The projects build on the physics curriculum, allowing pupils to apply classroom knowledge in an industry environment.

The students work on the projects according to Renishaw's product development process and use project plans and timelines as if they were Renishaw engineers. The work experience week also develops the students' skills in presenting, teamwork, report writing, budgeting and project planning. On the final day of the project, the student teams presented the prototypes to senior Renishaw board members.

“A worrying Engineering UK report recently forecasted that the engineering skills shortage will cost the UK £27 billion a year by 2022,” explained Julie Collins, Education Liaison Manager of Renishaw. “Addressing the skills shortage is vital to the UK economy. Renishaw hopes to work with young people to inspire STEM career choices as a part of addressing this urgent skills shortage.”

The work experience weeks have been awarded full recognition by the Skills for Stroud Work Experience and Employability Charter.

Renishaw apprenticeship scheme

Renishaw is one of the UK’s most successful and progressive engineering companies and our people and products make a real difference to the world we live in. As part of our commitment to the future development of the company and its leading role in the industry, we want talented and enthusiastic innovators to join us at the start of their engineering careers by becoming Renishaw apprentices.

Renishaw has more than 35 years of experience in developing and training apprentices and offers an extensive scheme which covers a variety of software, mechanical and electronic disciplines.

• Software apprenticeships - This structured Higher Apprenticeship will give successful candidates the opportunity to study for a degree while working on exciting and challenging work placements. Study leads to a BSc in Digital and Technology Solutions via long distance learning with the University of Exeter.
  • Year 1: Software apprentice training programme where you will be trained by Software Engineers who are experts in their fields.
  • Year 2 and 3: Placements within software development groups
  • Year 4 and 5: Specialise in a specific field within the company
• Engineering apprenticeships - A four-year programme including:
  • Year 1: Full time at Gloucestershire Engineering Training (GET) learning basic principles of engineering.
  • Year 2: Two-week induction programme followed by work placements in manufacturing areas. Continued day release to GET to gain vocational related qualification
  • Year 3 and 4: Ongoing work placements across the different business divisions, continued day release at an appropriate university to gain HNC/HND qualifications and opportunities may be present for further study at degree level
• Embedded electronic systems design and development apprenticeships - This structured Higher Apprenticeship will give successful candidates the opportunity to study for a degree while working on exciting and challenging work placements.
  • Year 1: Time will be split between university, attending the Renishaw Academy and specialised courses where students will be trained by software engineers who are experts in their fields.
  • Year 2 and 3: Placements within the electronics groups.
  • Year 3 and 4: Specialise in a specific field within the company.