Inspiring the engineers of tomorrow

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Each year, National Engineering Day serves as a powerful reminder of the passion, ingenuity and commitment that our engineers bring to shaping our world.

At Rolls-Royce, it’s not only a celebration of the innovative work we do but also an opportunity to ignite the imaginations of the next generation of engineers.

This November, we hosted an exciting event in Derby, inviting ambitious young individuals including children with special educational needs and disabilities from 147 primary and 95 secondary schools to explore the world of engineering at Rolls-Royce with hands-on experiences and inspiring conversations with our experts.

“We have now run six events over the last three years, giving over 2,500 young people the opportunity to see what we do and be inspired,” explains Deborah Robinson, Group Director of Test and Experimental Engineering. “One of the limiting factors for children is often ambition poverty and this is a great way to really lift aspirations and change young people’s lives.”

Shining a spotlight on role models

Aligned with this year’s theme of ‘Engineering Role Models’, our Engineering, Technology and Safety (ET&S) team ran a range of stalls with a focus on how we design, develop, manufacture and service our products, as well as showcasing some of the exciting, cutting-edge technology opportunities for the future.

Pictured from left to right: Natasha Whitehurst, Tony Bell, Deborah Robinson, Rebecca Freeman, Sarah Batty and Nikki Thomas

A glimpse into Rolls-Royce’s legacy

In addition to our stalls, attendees were treated to a tour of our Heritage Centre. Here, they discovered the story of Rolls-Royce’s more than a century of innovation and excellence, exploring the evolution of our iconic brand and its role in shaping the industries of aviation, power systems, defence and beyond.

Changing lives and lifting ambitions

Deborah reflected on the success of the event, saying: “I am really grateful and proud of all the Rolls-Royce employees from across our UK sites that run stalls or help organise and support these events. They are a highlight in my calendar and would not be possible without their energy, enthusiasm and sheer inspiration.”

 

Building a more inclusive future

Out of the more than 240 schools invited to attend, 91% of primary and 48% of secondary schools aligned to our target schools based on ethnic diversity and socio economic factors. Hannah Sinnett, Chief of Product Performance, highlighted the importance of representation in engineering: “As a female in the Engineering Team at Rolls-Royce, I am extremely keen to support this event year-on-year, to help inspire the next generation and showcase the fantastic opportunities available!”

We’re committed to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone can be at their best and feel a sense of belonging. We look forward to hosting more events like these so that we can nurture the next generation of engineers of to power, protect and connect our world.

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