Stephen Metcalfe, local MP
for South Basildon and East Thurrock, teamed up with apprentices from Selex ES
and the broader aerospace industry last Wednesday to take part in a rocket
launching competition.
Supported by the Science
and Technology Committee, the competition celebrated the launch of the 2014 UK
Aerospace Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKAYRoC) which sees teams of students aged
11-18 years old design, build and launch their own rockets to exacting
specifications.
The event coincides with
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week – a Department for Business, Innovation and Skills
(BIS) initiative to showcase the many exciting engineering careers options
available to young people.
Earlier this week
Professor John Perkins, the chief scientific advisor to BIS published his
Review of Engineering Skills. The Review, highlighting the importance of
engineers to the UK economy, recommends that government, industry, the
engineering profession and the education sector work together to inspire young
people into engineering. The UKAYRoC is an important initiative to achieve
this, and has become increasingly influential in enthusing young people about
the variety of opportunities on offer in the aerospace sector. Next year’s
challenge is set to be bigger than ever before, with places for 150 teams to
take part.
Mr Metcalfe commented:
“The event offered a fantastic opportunity to meet with some of the bright,
ambitious young people that are just starting their engineering careers. The
Rocketry Challenge is a brilliant way to show more students in the area what
fun engineering really is, and I am keen to encourage as many schools and
colleges from South Basildon and East Thurrock to enter the 2014 challenge.”
Speaking at the event,
Paul Everitt, chief executive of aerospace trade organisation, ADS Group
commented: “The Rocketry Challenge is a unique initiative to ignite enthusiasm
for our sectors. We believe the challenge has an important role to play in
galvanising more young people to take up careers in the aerospace sector, ultimately
helping the UK take advantage of the significant growth opportunities available
as air travel continues to increase.”
Apprentices from Airbus,
Astrium, Axis Electronics, Cobham, GE Aviation, GKN, Marshall Aerospace and
Defence, MEP, Raytheon UK, RLC Engineering, Selex ES and UTC Aerospace Systems
were on hand on the day to support their MP team leader in the successful
launch of the rocket.
Schools can find out more
about the Challenge at www.ukayroc.org.
