Hi How Your Life aims to boost both engineering and equality!?!

Hi How Your Life aims to boost both engineering and equality!?!

Earlier this month, the Chancellor launched Your Life, a campaign that promotes greater participation in physics and maths and aims to change how women and girls in particular are encouraged to consider engineering careers and the subject choices or vocational pathways that lead to them. 

As part of this campaign, Engineering UK – along with more than 170 other signatories - pledged to work in partnership with educators, industry and government to boost female participation in technology and engineering.

This acknowledgement of the importance of physics and maths skills as drivers in the global economy is very welcome, and Engineering UK - along with other professional bodies - has been working with Government departments to help shape tangible actions and real, measurable goals.

"Although equality in engineering is a goal of Your Life, it’s just as important to increase the total number of engineers."

The “Your Life” campaign consists of a three-pronged approach to change: a communications campaign, promoting physics and maths A-level with emphasis on girls aged 14-16; the establishment of Maths and Physics “Chairs” - postgraduates recruited to bring their subject expertise into schools; and the “Call to Action” pledges by those from across the sector to increase the numbers of women in engineering. The campaign complements the work of Engineering UK and partner organisations to engage more young people in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) - and we are working closely with the DfE, which is leading on the campaign from Government – to ensure our activities dovetail.

The campaign has some ambitious aspirations attached to it. Together with the pledges made by the STEM community, the aim is to increase the number of boys and girls taking physics A-level by 50% in three years. Such positive change comes with its own challenges, of course. If we are to accommodate and benefit from an increased uptake of maths and physics at A-level, we must press for further capacity in engineering education post-18.

For our part, Engineering UK continues to develop and grow active channels of engagement. Together with the Royal Academy of Engineering, we have been leading on the delivery of the Tomorrow’s Engineers programme, working with 11-14 year olds in schools across the UK, since 2010. A partnership across the profession, the Tomorrow’s Engineers programme has grown to include the activities of several of the larger professional engineering institutions, with the ICE, IET and IMechE all represented on the Programme Board. However, if we are to make a change on the national scale that’s needed, we have to reach even more young people. That’s why, building on feedback from hundreds of employers, Tomorrow’s Engineers plans to facilitate a national programme of engineering employer engagement in schools by joining up other networks and initiatives at a regional level; coordinating activity to improve reach and impact; and sharing best practice.

During the school summer term this year, we are running a pilot of this approach in the North East and South East, where a Tomorrow’s Engineers Regional Partnership Manager will work with employers and schools, building on existing schools engagement activity and learning from each how activity can be best coordinated to meet their needs.

We are planning Tomorrow’s Engineers Week for November, working in partnership with businesses, educators and Call to Action signatories.  The Week will take place from 3 – 7 November and will provide the focus for a wide range of activities at a local level and include a national media campaign. Providing a hook for the engineering community to promote its activity, we aim to highlight the diversity, opportunity and reward on offer from a career in engineering, with a focus on engaging with 11-14 year olds.

It’s vital we understand how we're doing in our collective aim to inspire the next generation of engineers. We monitor hard measures of the pipeline of tomorrow’s engineers, such as the numbers of young people taking GCSEs and A Levels in physics and the numbers going into an engineering apprenticeship or to an engineering degree. And we measure and track the impact of our collaborative efforts on the perceptions of young people, their parents and influencers through the annual Engineering Brand Monitor – we expect the 2014 results in July.

The UK needs more engineers, and the high profile campaign launch and commitments it contains are a great indication that the Government is taking seriously the role of STEM in securing the future of engineering and of our economy. The Tomorrow’s Engineers programme focuses on engaging with employers and coordinating activity in schools to inspire young people and create the next generation of engineers and if you would like to play a part in that, get in touch.

Hi Local! Melbourne - Australia - May HVAC Event!

Hi Local! Melbourne - Australia - May HVAC Event!

- "Engineering Excellence.!"

"ARBS Exhibitors & Visitors Feedback!."

- Visitor Testimonials:

"(Obtained via anonymous survey held during ARBS 2010.)"

• "ARBS was well presented could not have asked for anything further.”

• “I found that you covered well all aspects of the industries that service our needs.”

• “I saw everything I would have liked to have seen for domestic, commercial and industrial applications.”

• “All products and services were well represented - didn't find anything missing. Great overall coverage.”

• “The areas that I was interested and the people I wanted to meet were well represented.”

• “They were all there, I just did not allow myself time to get to see them all.”

• “All bases were covered in relation to my business.”

• “Good representation all round.”

- Exhibitor Testimonials:

"(Provided anonymously for ARBS 2012 exhibition.)"

• “The quality of attendees seemed quite good this year.”
• “Well organised, great show."
• “Good communication; well planned marketing activities.”
• “An excellently organised and conducted event.”
• “This is ARBS I believe had a much more higher calibre of visitors and I thought presentation and running of it was the best ARBS I have attended.”
• “Very comprehensive show with all aspects of HVAC & R on display and many willing exhibitors.”
• “Generally speaking we were very impressed. Good amount of traffic through, well operated and larger than we anticipated.”
• “Thoroughly enjoyed the show, and the communication throughout was excellent.”
• “An excellent, well administered exhibition for showcasing our specialist products. We were pleased with the overall visitor numbers, and with the quality and number of enquiries that we received.”

"(Provided anonymously for ARBS 2010 exhibition.)"

• “Well run, and successful event. Well done!.”
• “This was our first time entry we will be attending again.”
• "Could not be better. We do a number of shows and no one does it as well as ARBS.”
• “It was one of the better Exhibitions we have been to.”
• “An excellent show. Very well organised. Good cross section of trades. Great location.”
• "Well organised. It is a true global exhibition in terms of quality.”
• “Worthwhile and well organised.”
• "We felt it was the best ARBS we had attended the quality of customers was good and the organisation of the exhibition ran very smoothly.”
• “Excellent event.”
• "First time for me and yet am not sure if it was a success for us but I will be at the next one.”
• “Well organised.”

Hi Back To My Back Feature!>Phase 1>Hi Engineered Mategra! & .Phase 2>Entrepreneurship Engineered!

Hi Back To My Back Feature!>Phase 1>Hi Engineered Mategra! & .Phase 2>Entrepreneurship Engineered!

>Hi Feature Phase 1> Why engineering must start addressing its sexuality issue!.

- Senior reporter; 

"The lack of evidence about engineers who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender demonstrates why industry needs to start thinking more about all its employees."

A person’s sexuality or gender identity should not be an issue in a workplace in 21st century Britain (or really in any workplace). 

Yet while the engineering sector frequently engages in self-scrutiny over the working environment it creates for women, virtually no consideration has been given to engineers who happen to be lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT). 

This week saw what will hopefully be the start of a process to address that issue, as the Royal Academy of Engineering convened an event to discuss what engineering firms could do to provide a better environment for their LGBT employees and, crucially, why it was worth their while to do so.

There’s no hard evidence to suggest that LGBT people who work in engineering suffer greater prejudice than those in any other sector. 

Although the problem is there’s virtually no evidence about their experiences at all, so even if there were issues of bullying, harassment or fear, we wouldn't know about them.

In the most recent Workplace Equality Index compiled by LGB charity Stonewall, less than 0.5 per cent of respondents to the employee survey worked for engineering firms (compared to around 20 per cent of all workers in the country).

Those engineering companies that chose to take part in the index represented just six out of the 319 participating firms, five of them in the energy sector and none of them in the top 100 (although other organisations that employ engineers, such as IBM, several universities and the Army, were more successful).

Other sectors that are often seen to compete for engineering graduates, such as financial and professional services, performed much better in the index. When it comes to ensuring an inclusive working environment and studying potential problems for LGBT employees, it appears engineering is a step behind.

So why does this matter? With anti-discrimination laws, almost (but not entirely) equal legal status for same-sex couples and the greater levels of tolerance towards LGBT people that Britain generally enjoys today, why do engineering firms need to start thinking more about their LGBT staff?

Firstly, people do their best work when they feel comfortable and secure in their workplace. Bullying of any kind is obviously an issue in this sense, but if an employee feels they can't be honest about who they are, that they cannot discuss important problems, or that they will suffer prejudice if they are open about a major part of their life, it will inevitably affect their relationships with colleagues and likely the quality of their work.

Secondly, at a time when many engineering firms are struggling to recruit and many of the best engineering graduates are choosing to work elsewhere, any issues that may put good engineers off from joining the sector must be addressed. If any engineer wants to go into finance for the money then they will, but if an LGBT person is weighing up different options and they're worried about how they will be treated in engineering it will likely become a lot less attractive.

Finally, as Royal Academy of Engineering chief executive Philip Greenish put it, it’s just the right thing to do. 

If we believe that people should be free to be happy in their personal lives, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity, allowing them to suffer at work as a result is a failure.

Engineering is just at the start of addressing this issue, but some firms are already forging ahead and working out how they can not only ensure the welfare of their LGBT staff but also how this can directly improve their business.

Representatives from BP and Arup told the Royal Academy of Engineering audience how their efforts to create LGBT networks and support groups, to get senior management to demonstrate their commitment to LGBT staff welfare and even making sure all staff use appropriate language had made a difference. BP had also found it could use the enthusiasm of its LGBT groups, now renamed “business resource groups” to help its recruitment efforts.

The attempt to create an environment where staff felt comfortable enough to discuss LGBT issues internally was particularly important for the two companies as they operated in numerous countries where homosexuality or transgenderism was either not culturally tolerated or illegal, and where LGBT staff may risk prejudice by working there.

BP, in particular, was quick to admit it didn't have all the answers and that it was still developing its approach. 

The only worrying thing about the presentation was BP’s failure to mention probably the most famous LGBT person in engineering, its former chief executive Lord Browne, whose career at the company came to an end when he lied in court about aspects of his personal life.

Though BP would undoubtedly say the company has moved on since Lord Browne’s era (as indeed the whole country has), his experience should serve as a warning of the potential consequences of forcing someone to hide who they are.

The key message from the evening was that more must now be done to address this issue. 

The absence of any specific reference to engineers who are transgender (of whom there were several in the audience) is a good indicator of this. 

The negative stories need to be shared so problems can be identified and of course, SMEs will have entirely different needs, resources and experiences to the likes of BP and Arup.

Most importantly it’s time for engineering to start talking about this topic and to start educating itself. It’s not enough to say a person’s sexuality or gender identity is their own business and doesn't need to be discussed at work. 

People need to feel they can be themselves and that their employer will listen if they have a problem. 

As Arup engineer Emmeline Tang put it: tolerance is just enduring someone’s existence; it’s not the same as acceptance.

>Hi Feature Phase 2> Unearthing tomorrow's engineering entrepreneurs!.

- "A new competition, aimed at cultivating the next generation of engineering entrepreneurs, has been launched today by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng)."

Targeted at 16 to 25 year olds, the Launchpad competition has been developed to encourage young people to think about how their innovations might be developed into fully-fledged, vibrant businesses.

The winner will receive the prestigious JC Gammon Award which includes £15,000 to help kick-start their business, support from the Royal Academy on routes to securing investment, and membership of the Royal Academy’s Enterprise Hub, an initiative that sees some of the UK’s leading technology entrepreneurs pledge their time to mentor the country’s most promising startups and SMEs.

Commenting on the new competition, Arnoud Jullens, Head of Enterprise at the RAEng said: 

‘The future success of the UK’s economy is dependent on investment in innovation today, and developing relevant skills in the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.’

More than 100 volunteer mentors, who are Fellows of the Academy, have pledged their time to the Hub including well-known names such as Dr Mike Lynch FREng, Co-Founder of Autonomy and Founder of Invoke, and Sir Robin Saxby FREng, former Founding Chief Executive and Chairman of ARM.

The deadline for entries is Monday 30 June 2014. 

*Further details can found by clicking the link here!.

Hi Employee Engineering!. eArticles!.

Hi Employee Engineering!. eArticles! <Great Britain>

It takes a country to raise an engineer!.

Britain’s bouncing back! Or so the statistics appear to indicate. The UK economy grew by nearly one per cent in the first three months of the year and is nearly back to its 2008 peak. 

Of course the population has also grown so we're all still poorer, plus there are fears of a London house-price bubble and the spectre of interest rate rises to worry about.

There are at least signs that manufacturing is finally making a clear recovery, growing by more than the service sector and at the fastest rate since 2010 (although given manufacturing’s steeper fall during the recession we're some way off the much hoped-for rebalancing).

However with the good economic news comes the inevitable complaint that we don’t have enough engineering graduates and that the ones we are producing don’t have the right skills to fuel industry’s needs.

Research released today by manufacturers’ organization EEF shows 66 per cent of firms plan to recruit engineering graduates in the next three years, but that 80 per cent of them think universities need to prioritise making students employable and 35 per cent have recently turned to EU students, who are often seen has having better industry experience.

There is certainly a case for universities to look again to ensure their engineering courses are giving students the best opportunities, and for businesses to communicate their needs more clearly. 

Chairing a recent workshop for the Engineering Professors’ Council on the topic of postgraduate engineering, The Engineer was amazed to see how little university representatives understood what engineering firms wanted from masters and PhD-level candidates.

There is also a strong argument for greater encouragement of industrial placements and sandwich years as part of undergraduate courses, and for more firms to offer such experience.

But there’s also a need for employers to check their expectations and understanding of what universities are for. 

They are not training colleges or vocational schools but places for students to undertake deep study. 

They shouldn’t neglect the issue of employability but they also can’t be expected to train students in using specific machines and software at the expense of greater understanding of engineering principles.

Engineering firms also have to step up and take responsibility for training and skills – and indeed many are, providing placements, sponsoring students and putting their existing employees through university. But the numbers doing these things are half (or less) the numbers calling for more from higher education.

While all this is going on, the struggle continues to get more young people onto engineering courses in the first place. 

A new set of recommendations on careers advice in school raises the hope of some improvement in this sphere.

The approach set out by Sir John Holman in a review for the charitable Gatsby Foundation is to give schools more resources and incentives to improve career guidance provision, which is currently patchy at best – less than a quarter of students receive more than one face-to-face advice session by the time they're 18.

This approach fits with the current trend for giving schools more freedom to set their own agendas but leaves hanging the question of whether schools will take up the challenge – even with greater pressure from Ofsted and the inclusion of student destinations in league tables. And, especially if careers guidance is provided by teachers rather than dedicated advisers, it won’t address the problem of stereotyping and cultural bias against engineering jobs.

Unearthing tomorrow's engineering entrepreneurs!.

A new competition, aimed at cultivating the next generation of engineering entrepreneurs, has been launched today by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng).

Targeted at 16 to 25 year olds, the Launchpad competition has been developed to encourage young people to think about how their innovations might be developed into fully-fledged, vibrant businesses.

The winner will receive the prestigious JC Gammon Award which includes £15,000 to help kick-start their business, support from the Royal Academy on routes to securing investment, and membership of the Royal Academy’s Enterprise Hub, an initiative that sees some of the UK’s leading technology entrepreneurs pledge their time to mentor the country’s most promising startups and SMEs.

*Commenting on the new competition, Arnoud Jullens, Head of Enterprise at the RAEng said:

 ‘The future success of the UK’s economy is dependent on investment in innovation today, and developing relevant skills in the next generation of technology entrepreneurs'.

More than 100 volunteer mentors, who are Fellows of the Academy, have pledged their time to the Hub including well-known names such as Dr Mike Lynch FREng, Co-Founder of Autonomy and Founder of Invoke, and Sir Robin Saxby FREng, former Founding Chief Executive and Chairman of ARM.

The deadline for entries is Monday 30 June 2014.

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Hi Events!> 5 great reasons to attend Subcon 2014!

Hi Events!> 5 great reasons to attend Subcon 2014!

Subcon is less than 4 weeks away, taking place on...., NEC, Birmingham.

If you're an engineering professional looking to compare new suppliers, stay up-to-date on the latest manufacturing developments and network with industry peers, here's how you can benefit from the must-attend Subcon Show! 

1. Meet, compare and benchmark world-class subcontract and contract manufacturers from over 20 countries - discuss your specific requirements, bring specs and drawings and receive quotes. 
   
    
2. Hear the latest innovations, ideas and challenges from leaders in manufacturing and engineering at The Engineer Conference now running over three days. Free to attend pick and mix sessions will inspire, inform and offer practical take away knowledge to apply to business efficiency. 
    
3. Expand your network with suppliers and peers- develop new working relationships, partnerships and supply chains to optimise manufacturing strategies. 
    
4. New for 2014, Subcon Electronics Zone - showcasing the best in electronics design and manufacturing to provide the complete outsourced solution providing an unrivalled opportunity to meet electronics specialists and interact with the latest technologies.
    
5. Discover opportunities to create new business partnerships and gain access to low cost routes at The National Pavilions covering Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, France, China, Taiwan, Latvia and more..., 

Subcon Show Highlights 2012;

Subcon Show Highlights 2011;

New Show Reel;

Hi Events!. Three cutting-edge manufacturing events in one this June!.

Three unrivalled brands come together to create the most anticipated manufacturing event of the year when leading industry exhibition Subcon returns to the NEC on 4 to 6 June alongside the Advanced Manufacturing Show, a new event from the UK’s leading production magazine MWP, and The Engineer Conference, highlighting new ideas and groundbreaking technologies.

Grant Burgham, Business Development and Portfolio Director at Centaur Exhibitions, said: 

- “These events will provide a clear focus for excellence in manufacturing technology and services. They will be a critical destination for engineers, sourcing teams and manufacturing management across all sectors and disciplines.”

The Engineer Conference will showcase some of the most compelling and inspiring examples of manufacturing technology from both the UK's established and emerging engineering sectors. 

 

Some of the biggest names in British industry will be taking part, with keynote speakers Mr Bob Joyce, Group Engineering Director of Jaguar Land Rover responsible for technology and innovation and Mr Dick Elsy, CEO of the UK’s High Value Manufacturing Catapult, bringing together seven world class centres of industrial innovation amongst a rich variety of speakers from industry and academia.

The Conference will provide a unique snapshot of the diversity of UK industry and give visitors valuable insight into the manufacturing strategies of some of our most exciting companies.

Over 300 companies will be exhibiting at Subcon and the Advanced Manufacturing Show, providing an anticipated 3,500 production and sourcing professionals with a comprehensive showcase of manufacturing technology and services.

Together the two events will provide a single point of call for visiting industry professionals looking to invest in the latest manufacturing technology, find world-class manufacturing partners and refine their make-buy strategies.

Subcon is the UK’s only event that is completely focused on contract and subcontract manufacturing including prototyping, 3D printing, machining, moulding, fabrication, electronics assembly, casting and forging, finishing, treatments and testing.

With 86% UK subcontractors , Subcon also offers access to global markets, with thirteen overseas countries represented this year including France, Denmark, Italy, Ireland, Singapore, India, Taiwan and China.

The new Advanced Manufacturing Show features machine tools, tooling, metrology equipment, software and ancillary equipment from the leading names in the sector. Visitors will have the chance to see live demonstrations and do business with exhibitors  including Yamazaki Mazak, Renishaw, WNT, Delcam, Hexagon Metrology, Nikon Metrology and XYZ amongst others.

Visitors just need to register for one show to get free access to both.  Registration is now open online at;

www.subconshow.co.uk 

www.advancedmanufacturingshow.co.uk

Hi THE 23rd SAUDI BUILDING & INTERIORS EXHIBITION!.

Hi THE 23rd SAUDI BUILDING & INTERIORS EXHIBITION!.

Visit Hammam Industries & Co. Egypt Exhibition Participate 2014!.

Economy; Construction fair to draw 200 world exhibitors:

Saleh Fareed
Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The 23rd Saudi building & interiors exhibition 2014 (SBIE) will kick off at Jeddah Center for Forums and Events from May 11 to 14.

The exhibition, being organized by Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions (ACE) and is held under the patronage of the Saudi Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs will be inaugurated by Dr. Hani Abu Ras,  Mayor of Jeddah.

Saudi Arabia’s 23rd Comprehensive Showcase for the Industry with its excellent track record is fully geared up to bring together local, regional and international companies specialized in building and interior industries to take advantage of major opportunities in the industry, as well as to learn about the developments in the local and global markets. 

Over 200 exhibitors are participating in the exhibition representing Bahrain, China, Egypt, Lebanon, Malaysia, Morocco, Taiwan, Turkey, UAE, UK and leading manufacturers, agents and distributors to showcase an extensive range of the latest building materials, construction equipment, wood machinery, interior furnishings and other products. 

Commenting on this year’s show, Zahoor Siddique, Vice President-Exhibitions of Al Harithy Company for Exhibitions, said: “Celebrating its 23rd anniversary, SBIE  continues to provide a comprehensive showcase for suppliers and service providers, whether new to the market or simply wishing to increase brand awareness.” 

He added: “We create the B2B opportunities and international companies which specialize in the sector can explore the opportunities in Saudi Arabia by finding available partners here.” 

This year, the event will also witness the inclusion of specialist sectors which are School Build and Health Build “These will provide unique opportunities for the sectors to expand businesses interests,” he said.

Powering the economy is Saudi Arabia’s $650 billion 9th Development Plan, which acts as a catalyst for its ongoing ambitious long-term program for building and construction, and expanding the infrastructure across the country.

Almost 50 percent of the Kingdom’s 2013 budget is allocated for capital investment projects, underscoring the government’s determination to improve critical infrastructure and diversify the economy.