At Taylor and Fraser, we are delighted to frequently be involved in inspiring and educating the younger generation on the opportunities that the construction and engineering industry can offer.
We are pleased to currently be involved in the Go4SET educational project organised by the Engineering Development Trust (EDT). The project connects teams of S2 students across Scotland and England with organisations such as ourselves, to work on a 10 -12 week STEM project.
Mike Young, one of our Project Engineers, has been leading our involvement in the project at Gleniffer High School in Paisley this year. Mike is a STEM ambassador and has been involved in EDT projects in the past, initially as an assessor in 2013 and then as a mentor when we have sponsored the project in subsequent years. So again, we are delighted to be working hands-on with students throughout the duration of the project this year.
The Go4SET project kicked off on 20th February with the official launch day and will last around 12 weeks. The students work in teams of six to carry out research, develop a model, and a devise a report based around a STEM project before presenting their work to a panel of judges at the University of the West of Scotland Paisley campus on 14th May.
Research has found that involving younger age groups in STEM practical projects can encourage them to follow a career path in a STEM subject after school. As strong advocates in our industry, we believe it is important to give back to our community and offer our expertise where possible to inspire the next generation. To this end in his capacity as a STEM ambassador Mike visits local schools giving talks on engineering and attending careers events.
The Go4SET project not only allows students to understand STEM application in a practical, real-world scenario, but also helps them to develop employability skills and build links with the local industry. It helps us as an employer to highlight the careers and pathways available, as well as address preconceptions of STEM industries and encourage everyone to consider it as a career. There are some great opportunities and rewarding careers in the engineering industry, and we are delighted to help students realise their potential in the field through projects like Go4SET.
We are looking forward to working with the students over the remainder of the project and seeing their final presentations in May!