The Sellafield Ltd Engineering Centre of Excellence team The team behind a programme to inspire young people to consider careers in engineering has secured a top award.
Sellafield Ltd’s Engineering Centre of Excellence in Cleator Moor won the STEM Ambassador of the Year at the
Engineering and Manufacturing Awards 2024 which celebrate organisations or individuals who have done the most to champion engineering careers and inspire young people to consider entering the profession. During 2023 alone, the social impact team at the centre organised and oversaw the delivery of 2,263 hours of STEM work experience and 1,122 hours of outreach support through Open Days, curriculum support and school visits.
Claire O’Connor, socio-economic lead for the Engineering Centre of Excellence, said: “The whole team here is absolutely thrilled to have won this award, particularly as we knew that the shortlist of teams and professionals in the category was so strong. Everyone from the work control office to all the bays, they are all crucial to this programme — it is a real team effort.
“This is where it starts, the experiences you have at school shape your attitude and expertise for the future. We want to play our part in laying the foundation for the next generation of engineers and it is wonderful to have everyone’s efforts recognised. Putting together a programme of this size and scale takes a lot of work but everyone is passionate about reaching out to children and young people to give them an insight into the world of engineering and to show how important STEM subjects are in school to lead to these career opportunities.”
The programme offers young people the opportunity to take part in a variety of innovative, technology-based activities suitable for a diverse range of age groups, abilities and backgrounds. The full calendar of events showcases the wide range of careers available at Sellafield.
The engaging activities include drone simulations and 3-D printing, as well as challenges such as circuit making, code breaking and bridge building. Visitors also get to see inspiring demonstrations of the world-leading innovations and engineering work which occurs on the Sellafield site every day. Overall, the STEM programme is helping to support thriving and cohesive communities across Cumbria, developing resilient economies across local communities and building and maintaining a robust pipeline of talent.
Craig Branney, head of off-site developments for Sellafield Ltd, said: “The Engineering Centre of Excellence is rooted firmly in the heart of the community here in Cleator Moor which reflects our commitment to the people, economy and long-term future of this area and the wider county. This award is testament to the dedication of Claire O’Connor, the Social Impact and wider teams who have worked tirelessly to build the STEM programme. My congratulations go to everyone involved in making it such a success.”