Students Drive Forward their Career in Engineering with the Smallpeice Trust

Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, August 08, 2012 --(PR.com)-- From 30th July to 2nd August, thirty-six promising young engineers enjoyed a unique hands-on learning experience at Coventry University. Sponsored by the 29th May 1961 Charitable Trust and organised by educational charity, The Smallpeice Trust, the 4-day residential course provided students with an opportunity to learn about automotive engineering through a series of presentations and practical hands-on workshops.

Over the four days, the 13 and 14 year old students completed "real-life" design-and-make challenges in their teams, which were facilitated by young role model engineers from two leading automotive companies, Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover. The projects included an "off-road vehicle challenge" and a high speed drag race based on the Land Rover 4 x 4 and the Aston Martin One-77. The cars were then subjected to a number of "road tests," as they negotiated a track which had features such as a straight run, an incline and a gravel pit.

As well as working on the design, build and test elements of these projects, they developed life skills such as teamwork, communication, problem solving, time management, finance and presentation. The students were also given an insight into the dynamic career opportunities available in the industry, when they attended presentations delivered by the facilitating companies.

The social programme included a film night, sports activities and an end-of-course celebratory barbeque.

Gemma Murphy, Head of Marketing and Development for The Smallpeice Trust commented, “Thanks to generous sponsorship, we are delighted to be able to offer students a valuable insight into this fast-changing industry. Coventry University is internationally known for its excellent teaching in mechanical and automotive engineering and has been the ideal venue to host the course. It is through practical engineering activities like these that young people will be encouraged to enter the profession and be equipped to meet the social, environmental and economic challenges of the future.”

Clare Quinn, New Model Operations Engineer from Aston Martin, has said “The Smallpeice Trust is a wonderful charity. It offers students the chance to get an insight into real, practical engineering and to interact with like-minded individuals. Engineering is so important in our society and so it is great to see so many young people attend an event like this. Such events will further develop their interest in the various STEM subjects and instill a sense of achievement in the tasks they have carried out; furthering their education and leading them on a path to be engineers of the future. The children were a credit to themselves and to their schools and I hope that they had a worthwhile and valuable time on the 2012 course. I hope that they will continue to be proactive in their education and further learning going forward.”

James Jaycock, a Project Engineer from Jaguar Land Rover added, "The Coventry course was really exciting to be a part of, the full participation of the students and brilliant resources The Smallpeice Trust provided were a formula for a successful week. The vehicles that resulted from the ‘Off-Road Challenge’ were far more complex then I expected. This was my first involvement with the Trust and my only regret was that I never went on these courses when I was in school!"

The Automotive Engineering course is organised by independent educational charity The Smallpeice Trust, as part of an ongoing programme of subsidised residential courses to help young people aged 13 to 18 learn and develop skills in engineering, design, technology and manufacturing. Through running residential courses and STEM enrichment days, The Trust has reached out to 18,175 students across the UK in the past year.

The new course timetable for 2013 will be launched in the Autumn school term. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. To find out more, visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk, or telephone The Smallpeice Trust on 01926 333200.

Notes to editors:

About The Smallpeice Trust:

The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 13 to 18.

The Smallpeice Trust was founded in 1966 by Dr Cosby Smallpeice, a pioneering engineer and inventor of the Smallpeice Lathe. Following the stock market flotation of his company Martonair, Dr Smallpeice invested his energy and part of his personal fortune to set up the Trust to ensure that British industry could continuously benefit from his proven design and engineering philosophies: “Simplicity in design, economy in production.”