EXPERTS in low carbon engineering technology gathered to inspire young people, due to pick their vital GCSE options, on the North-East careers of the future.

Around 85 pupils from Darlington secondary schools were given the opportunity to carry out practical engineering based tasks at the Foundation for Jobs Low Carbon Engineering Event.

The event was supported by experts from Cummins Engines, the Skills Academy for Sustainable Manufacturing and Innovation (SASMI), the Gateshead College-run facility adjoining Nissan’s Sunderland plant which trains people set to work on the Leaf electric vehicle, South West Durham Training (SWDT) in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, Tees Valley-based Peugeot dealership Simon Bailes, Tees Valley Mitsubishi, RTC North, which runs the STEM Ambassador programme in the North-East and the Engineering Development Trust (EDT).

It was the second year that the event had been held for secondary school pupils in Darlington, with the aim of challenging young people’s perceptions of the skills needed to work in modern day engineering and encourage them to take a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing) subject at GCSE.

As part of its drive to promote sectors where large numbers of jobs are set to be created in the North-East increasing young peoples understanding of engineering is a key aim of Foundation for Jobs.

Engineering suffers a perception problem amongst many young people, despite being a thriving sector of the North-East economy which is set to create thousands of jobs in the next few years.

At the event the year nine pupils were able to carry out Computer Aided Design with Cummins, wire mini wind turbines with SWDT, examine electric cars with SASMI and Simon Bailes, make a solar powered car with EDT and take part in an exercise to develop engineering skills with RTC North.

The warehouse space for the event was provided by Nigel Potter of 4Motion Darlington whose organisation is developing the facility on Faverdale into a skatepark.

A spokesman for Cummins Engines said: “We were happy to support the low carbon event as it aligns with our initiative to connect with local students and inspire them to consider engineering related career opportunities in our company.

Simon Bailes, the owner of the car dealership group carrying his name, said: “It’s vital that the next generation is made aware of both the more traditional skills and jobs available in the North-East as well as the newer sectors, such as the emerging electric vehicle industry which we are huge supporters of as we believe it has a strong future in this region following successful trials.”

Electric vehicle expert Paul Fraser, from Gateshead College, said: “The young people’s knowledge needs to be developed so they can make more a more informed choice during their option years.

"They are the potential engineers of the future and ultimately they have the future developments in their hands.”

Foundation for Jobs is a national award winning initiative to tackle youth unemployment involving Darlington Borough Council, The Northern Echo and the Darlington Partnership, of public and private sector organisations.

An important part of the campaign is to give young people a taste of business and entrepreneurship while still at school.

For further details on the campaign contact co-ordinator Owen McAteer at owen.mcateer@darlington.gov.uk