Next Engineers, a global career readiness programme working to increase the diversity of young people in engineering, recently announced the first-ever graduation of Engineering Academy students in Staffordshire. Many of them plan to study engineering at university or pursue engineering apprenticeships with local employers.

The Engineering Academy is a transformative learning experience designed for students aged 15 to 18. Through a rigorous curriculum, immersive design challenges, and career coaching, participants learn to think and act like engineers.

GE Vernova engineers and employees from Stafford actively engage with the programme through skill-based volunteering.

"It's fantastic to see the positive impact the Next Engineers programme is having, not just in empowering the engineers of tomorrow but encouraging diversity within engineering," said Vera Silva, Chief Technology & Strategy Officer of GE Vernova's Electrification Systems businesses.

Staffordshire was among the first four locations to launch Next Engineers, with a $3.5 million (£2.5 million) investment from the GE Foundation in 2021. 

To date, Next Engineers in Staffordshire, which also includes Engineering Discovery for ages 13 to 14 and Engineering Experience for ages 14 to 15, has reached more than 6,200 local students.

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