Primary Engineer, a UK-based educational non-profit founded in 2005, is on a mission to engage school pupils with the vast and inspirational world of engineering and technology. They do this by bringing engineering into classrooms around the UK with a range of educational programmes, competitions and qualifications, all of which have been designed to engage teachers and pupils in significant ways by creating meaningful connections between engineering principles and classroom learning.
Primary Engineer offer these educational activities free to schools thanks to the amazing support of their partners and supporters, who share their passion for making sure engineering opportunities are accessible for all children, regardless of background and ability.
The opportunity
They have a fantastic opportunity for organisations in Greater Manchester to partner with them on their annual UK-wide competition which asks pupils aged 3-19 the simple yet powerful question: “If you were an engineer, what would you do?”. The innovative competition is divided into 21 regions, including Greater Manchester, ensuring that pupils from every part of the country can participate. Thanks to funding from industry and universities, we are able to offer these opportunities entirely free to schools.
About the competition
The competition is hugely popular, in the 2023/ 2024 academic year it attracted over 71,000 entries from pupils across the UK. This remarkable participation underscores the competition’s ability to engage young people in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects. Importantly, the competition also promotes diversity in engineering, consistently achieving a 50:50 gender split among participants, which is vital for addressing the long-term skills gap in the engineering sector.
It is structured to encourage young people to think like engineers by identifying real-world problems and designing solutions. The process begins with pupils interviewing engineering and technology professionals, giving them insight into the diverse world of engineering and the various career paths it offers. These interviews inspire the pupils to identify a problem they would like to solve. Using their creativity and newly acquired knowledge, pupils then draw and annotate their solution to this problem, effectively applying the “Engineering Habits of Mind”—skills such as problem-finding, creative problem-solving, visualising, improving, and adapting.
After submission, each entry is graded and shortlisted at regional grading days. Judging panels, comprising industry professionals, select the most innovative and effective solutions. Winners and Highly Commended pupils from each year group are then recognised at award ceremonies and public exhibitions held in their region. These events not only celebrate the achievements of the pupils but also bring together teachers, parents, carers, and the wider community to showcase the students’ ingenuity.
Benefits
By becoming a partner, your organisation will be recognised as a key contributor to a competition that not only fosters educational growth but also nurtures the next generation of engineering talent. This is more than just an opportunity for brand visibility; it’s a chance to invest in the future of our region and ensure that young people from all backgrounds have the skills and confidence to pursue careers in engineering and technology.
Engineers from organisations in Greater Manchester also have the opportunity for flexible in-person or online volunteer involvement as part of partnering with Primary Engineer which can be used as evidence for CPD, Chartership, Membership and other outreach requirements. This exposes pupils to a world they might not have known existed, empowers them to ask questions that truly resonate with them and gives them a role model, after all pupils can’t be what they can’t see.
How to get involved?
If your organisation is based in Greater Manchester and is interested in making a lasting impact, please contact Natasha Kinnear, Head of Partnerships North West (natasha.kinnear@primaryengineer.co.uk). Together, we can inspire engineers in the making.
Images – Primary Engineer