Plantworx and Primary Engineer team up

Plantworx and Primary Engineer team up to inspire Engineers of the Future
The CEA (Construction Equipment Association) and Plantworx Construction Equipment Exhibition has teamed up with educational organisation, Primary Engineer, to work with more than 25 primary and secondary schools in the Leicestershire area on an exciting STEM vehicle engineering project. This new initiative by the CEA forms part of the CEA Skills Council programme – inspiring our future engineers today!  The presentation and judging of the school projects will be held at Plantworx on Thursday 8th June 2017 as part of the ‘Student Day’.

Primary Engineer will provide teacher training to both local primary and secondary schools – Primary Engineer vehicles projects for key stage1 and key stage 2 and Secondary Engineer Fluid Power Challenge for key stage 3 at secondary schools.

The training comprises two teachers per school and an invited engineer. Teachers make models on the course to use in the classroom. They are given an understanding of the curriculum links and access to the Primary Engineer Virtual Learning Environment where teaching resources can be found.

Primary Engineer and The Universe of Engineering

Primary Engineer has been working with teachers to address the fundamental issue of a lack of engineers and the wider perception of engineering since 2005. It is a not-for-profit organisation instigated through seed-corn funding from the then Department of Trade and Industry.  It has grown over the last decade to deliver teacher training to over 1000 teachers annually, bringing the programme, in the classroom, to over 33 000 new pupils, establishing itself as part of the curriculum in thousands of schools across the UK.

The primary school pupils will be set an engineering challenge to construct a vehicle whilst the secondary school pupils will design a crane using basic hydraulics.  Working in teams, the students will build their projects, which will form part of the school curriculum. The best teams will then present their designs at Plantworx on Thursday 8th of June as part of the Student Day where they will be judged by a team of engineers.  The winning teams will then go on to compete in the Primary Engineer National Finals.

Plantworx and CEA is seeking sponsorship support from Plantworx Exhibitors and CEA member companies – £500.00 is the cost to sponsor a Leicestershire Primary school which will fund the teacher training and the project delivery. £750.00 will fund a Secondary school and the training and delivery of the Fluid Power Challenge.  All companies involved will receive extensive publicity which will surround this event and be invited to the ‘Celebration Event’ which will be held on Thursday 8th June 2017 at Plantworx Construction Exhibition, Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire.

For more information, please contact Louise Murphy or Gemma Sharpe on 020 8661 0511 or 07730 617258 or email louise.murphy@plantworx.co.uk or gemma.sharpe@plantworx.co.uk 

Thank you to Plantworx News for this post: http://www.plantworx.co.uk/media-centre/news/item/plantworx-and-primary-engineer-team-up-to-inspire-engineers-of-the-future/