igus invests in the future of engineering at Arden Academy event

igus® attended an event hosted by Arden Academy in Solihull alongside big industry names such as Siemens, KUKA and Marvelous Manufacturing as well as local career experts, providing advice to students on their next steps.

The event was facilitated by Tom Flude, Co-founder of Engineers Insight and the day began with his delivery of an assembly to over three 300 students aged 11 to 12 to emphasise how rewarding and interesting industry manufacturing can be. There is a considerable skills shortage within Engineering and ‘The engineering industry is headed towards a shortfall of one million engineers by 2030’¹. In light of this, the event gave top manufacturing and engineering companies the chance to impress upon the students the importance of careers in the industry and showcase the versatility in the roles on offer.

For many students, the world of engineering seems one dimensional and the range of careers that are within the industry get overlooked as a result. Co-founder of Engineers Insight, Tom Flude, was keen to expand students’ understanding of the industry and provide them with the knowledge to seek out the career that is right for them. saying, “Engineering is not just toolboxes and overalls, it’s a fantastic career at the forefront of technology. And it pays more than the UK average wage…” Something that peaked the interests of the young listeners.

igus were keen to support the event and inspire the next generation, bringing a show-stealing combination of products. Travelling Sales Engineer for igus, Ashley Ward, engaged in conversations on 3D printed gears and the extensive range of industries where igus products can be found. igus have a product range in the thousands, catering to mainstream and niche industries alike. Sales Engineer Ashley Ward says, ‘If everyone knew everything igus are capable of providing to improve people’s applications and address pain points, we could make no end of difference to their operations.’

The igus team encouraged interactions with the irc (igus Robot Control) system and fielded questions on where in industry it would be used. The igus Robot Control system enables simple and intuitive robot programming and control and an easier entry into automation for businesses looking to implement automation into their processes.

The focus was not only on robotics. Automation and Technical Sales Engineer, Ed Kucewicz noted, ‘It was a great opportunity for us to really make our mark in education,’ delivering a mixture of product knowledge with engaging activities that proved to the workforce of the future that the manufacturing and engineering industry is versatile, providing something for everyone. Giving their unique experiences within the industry, the igus team discussed their career paths to get to marketing and sales and the education routes they took to get where they are. Demonstrating their commitment to the future of engineering, the igus team discussed the ins and outs of the industry and the difference that can be made by working to fix the skills shortage in industry, all to help students to make an informed decision on their next steps within further education.

“There will have been over four hundred children today that, even for a few minutes, will have thought about a future in Manufacturing. If we’ve managed to convince just one percent to do it, then it’s been successful.” Tom Flude, Engineer’s Insight.

As the horizon for education expands, the uptick in apprenticeships suggests a new way of gaining qualifications, an alternative to the university experience. At igus, seven percent of the workforce is currently made up of apprentices and the recruitment process for further apprentices is always expanding. Gaining invaluable experience in any field while making a wage sets you ahead of a large proportion of university students that accumulate student debt and graduate knowledgeable but inexperienced in their field. By giving students the understanding of what they need to do to meet their goals, the younger generation are better equipped going forwards.

¹ source: https://www.adsadvance.co.uk/negative-perceptions-of-engineering-exacerbating-skills-shortage.html