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The number of students enrolled
in engineering and technology
courses has fallen considerably
in recent years. This means that
there will be fewer future candidates
for technical positions and this
could affect our competitiveness
and the future capability of the
engineering industry.
To help address this we run a worldwide education programme aimed at encouraging young people throughout their academic careers to take an interest in science and technology. We support education in Australia, Saudi Arabia, the UK and the US. FIRST is just one example. We partner with many schools, colleges and universities to equip young people with the skills they need for an engineering career. In 2005,we invested £7 million directly in our global support for education and young people. We invested an additional £28.5 million in the UK through our indirect support for education in the form of apprenticeships, work placements and university research. |
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UK Schools programme Over 350 employees (called ambassadors) from BAE Systems visit schools in the UK to help with engineering projects and to give careers advice. Our UK Education Programme primarily targets 10 to 13-year-olds. In 2005,we launched the Schools Roadshow that includes a theatre performance. This is designed to interest the pupils in science and maths and get them thinking about a career in engineering, before they make subject choices at 14. The Roadshow was launched by Dick Olver, our Chairman, and Dr Kim Howells, the UK education minister. The show visited 134 schools near our major sites, involving over 17,000 young people. The team from BAE Systems was accompanied by three actors who performed a specially designed play about building a vehicle that can fly, float and work on land. After the performance the actors divided the students into groups for a workshop. The students were challenged to build the highest structure they could, using only newspapers and sticky tape. The structure had to support the weight of an iPod. BAE Systems employees were on hand to help the young people brainstorm ideas and give personal insights on how engineers approach such tasks. The schools were challenged to devise an environmentally-friendly vehicle for the year 2050. The aim was for the students to develop an engineering design proposal whilst having fun. Our employees returned to the schools twice: half way through the project to check on progress and to help develop ideas; and once more near completion to comment on the work. Every school that submitted a completed project received a certificate from BAE Systems. The best designs are showcased on www.baesystems.com/education The website also contains resources for teachers and pupils. The programme has had a big impact. All the children were asked to complete a questionnaire about the experience and over 70% of boys and 40% of girls said they would now consider a career in engineering. “Before I thought engineering was just about cars, but now I know engineering is about lots of different things. Engineering is very important in our working lives.” Pupil, St George’s School for Girls, Edinburgh After the completion of the Roadshow we offered work experience to 14 to 16-yearolds to try and maintain their interest. In 2005, 495 young people completed one-day or one-/two-week placements with the Company. BAE Systems won the 2005 Edge Employer Award for its education activity. This award recognises employers in the UK that are dedicated to helping young people learn in the workplace. We are using the prize money to create a new virtual work experience area on our education website for those pupils who were unable to attend our work experience placements. Higher education strategic partnerships In the UK,we have strategic partnerships with 20 colleges and universities to build engineering research capabilities and improve graduate recruitment. In 2005, BAE Systems became the first corporate sponsor of the new National Science Learning Centre at York University. This is the first dedicated centre of excellence for the teaching of science to all age groups in the UK. We also fund the Systems Engineering Innovation Centre (SEIC) at Loughborough University. The SEIC is a state-of-the-art centre for excellence in all areas of research and technology development, teaching and training. Apprenticeships 
BAE Systems is the largest employer of
engineering apprentices in the UK, with
more than 1,000 apprentices in training.
Apprenticeships give young people the
opportunity to gain qualifications through
on-the job training. This benefits us by
ensuring a strong skills set in the future.
In 2005, Vic Emery, Managing Director,
Naval Ships presented the business
benefits of apprenticeships to EU education
policy makers at a conference organised
during the UK EU Presidency.
Apprentices train in a wide range of skills, from engineering, steelwork and joinery to business administration and information technology. Overall the programme has an 87% completion and retention rate. This is high compared with other apprenticeship programmes where the rates are as low as 24%. Our Chief Executive, Mike Turner,was part of the Apprenticeship Task Force which advised the Government on how to expand and improve apprenticeships in the UK. In 2005,we received the Employer of the Year Award at the Apprenticeship Awards 2005. The Company also made formal responses to the Leitch Review of Skills and the Foster Review of Further Education. These reviews were commissioned by the Government to improve the skills base in the UK. US We sponsor a number of programmes to support science and technology across the US. Our scholarships to colleges and universities have enabled hundreds of students to take courses in technical fields. For example in 2005:
Australia In Australia BAE Systems supports a wide range of school and university programmes. The company works with these institutions, offering sponsorship and mentoring programmes, to inspire young people to get involved in engineering. These projects include:
Saudi Arabia In Saudi Arabia BAE Systems supports the Chevening Scholarships, run by the British Council to give young people the opportunity to study in the UK and return with skills that will contribute to the development of their home country. We also sponsor the British Council’s post-doctoral research programme which gives Saudi academics grants to conduct research in British universities. We are partnering with the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to develop standard qualifications and training curriculum for technical trades and vocational qualifications. This four-year programme is funded by BAE Systems, and a full-time, seconded BAE Systems specialist helps to run the programme. Apart from the provision of funding and specialist help,we also provide information about national vocational programmes in other countries. |
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