Micro-Epsilon helps encourage young people into science and engineering professions

Micro-Epsilon is engaging in local school and college activities to support the STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) initiative.

Back in November, the company attended a STEM careers event held at Our Lady’s Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College in Skelmersdale. Together with other engineering employers such as BAE Systems and Pepsico, Micro-Epsilon was able to present and demonstrate its range of displacement sensors and temperature measurement products.

Also supporting the event were leading institutions such as the Institute of Physics, technical organisations, colleges and universities.

More than 200 pupils and students aged between 15 and 18 were able to see technology in action, find out about the participating companies and ask questions about the qualifications they would need to enter an engineering profession. Micro-Epsilon also demonstrated the European and global aspects of working for an engineering company, the growth of women in engineering, as well as highlighting its involvement in the Bloodhound SSC project.

Industry’s need for graduates in STEM subjects is high. Since 2009, on average, only 40% of those who graduate in the UK do so with a degree in a STEM subject – with just one in twenty of these going on to work in manufacturing.

Amanda Byrne, marketing manager at Micro-Epsilon UK, commented: “The UK is still suffering from a lack of young people wanting to move into manufacturing after leaving school or college. But the recession has demonstrated just how crucial manufacturing and engineering are to our economy. It is therefore essential that we attract the brightest young people to all types of jobs in manufacturing, from production and engineering roles through to marketing, HR and purchasing. By supporting local STEM events, Micro-Epsilon can communicate to these youngsters exactly what engineering as a career is all about and the opportunities it can offer.”