Staffordshire, UK - (31 July 2024) - Next Engineers, a global career readiness programme working to increase the diversity of young people in engineering, proudly announces the first-ever graduation of Engineering Academy students in Staffordshire.

The 32 students from 16 secondary schools across Staffordshire completed the programme - many of whom plan to study engineering at university or pursue engineering apprenticeships with local employers - will be joined by family and friends on 1 August to celebrate their achievements. The Inspirational Learning Group is the educational partner for the local Next Engineers programme, which was established in 2021, and GE Vernova engineers and employees from Stafford actively engage with the programme through skill-based volunteering.

“We are so pleased to see our first cohort of students graduating, and we wish them all the luck in the world for the next stage of their education,” said Vera Silva, Chief Technology & Strategy Officer of GE Vernova’s Electrification Systems businesses. “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. We extend our thanks to all those involved in the Engineering Academy.”

Students who complete the Engineering Academy and enrol in a qualified engineering or engineering-related degree or apprenticeship will receive partial scholarships to support them as they continue on their paths to becoming engineers.

"It has been a pleasure to support our first cohort of Academy students and support them throughout their journey,” said Ben Dyer, Co-Founder of The Inspirational Learning Group. “Our team has been so impressed with their dedication and creativity throughout - we can safely say that the future of engineering is in very safe hands! We wish all of our graduates the best of luck as they enter their new chapters, whether that is at university, apprenticeships or employment."

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.

Key programme highlights:

• Dedication: The Engineering Academy spans three years, with students dedicating 220 hours outside of regular school hours to participate.
• Design challenges: In small teams, students tackle increasingly complex design challenges, mastering the engineering design process.
• Foundational skills: Beyond technical knowledge, students develop essential skills such as communication, teamwork, persistence, time management, and presentation abilities.
• Education and career exploration: Workshops and activities prepare students for their next steps, including university campus tours and interactions with GE Vernova volunteers.
• Scholarships: Students who complete the programme and enrol in engineering degree programmes or engineering apprenticeships receive partial scholarships. Next Engineers anticipates granting at least $2 million (£1.5 million) in scholarships to the inaugural classes of Engineering Academy students worldwide.

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.

For more information about Next Engineers and the Engineering Academy, visit our NextEngineers.org.

-ENDS-

About Next Engineers

Next Engineers, a programme originally funded by the GE Foundation in 2021, now known as the GE Aerospace Foundation, is a college and career readiness program dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of engineers. Through innovative programs, mentorship, and community partnerships, we empower young minds to shape a better future through engineering.

About GE Vernova

GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) is a purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world’s challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with approximately 75,000 employees across 100+ countries around the world. Supported by the Company’s purpose, The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova technology helps deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future. Learn more: GE Vernova and LinkedIn.

About The Inspirational Learning Group

The Inspirational Learning Group develop and deliver innovative career solutions for students, education institutes and employers across the U.K. and beyond. We are proud to have engaged and positively influenced over 600,000 students through our flagship programme, The National Careers Challenge, our real-life business challenge that enables young people to develop crucial key employability skills, vital for the ever-changing world of work. Our portfolio also includes additional programmes such as our Stocks & Shares Challenge, My Perfect University, Team Building challenges and summer school provision. As the partner of choice for outreach activity of several large, high-profile organisations such as NatWest and GE Vernova, TILG are being increasingly relied on to create truly bespoke education and outreach initiatives to support development, social mobility and inclusion. We are changing the way that young people are educated about their future world of work, engaging, inspiring, and motivating them to succeed.