Young engineers!

We interviewed Dion White (below) in the Winter 09 issue of Caris, but forgot to tell you all about Young Engineers — which is helping to turn Dion’s, and many other young people’s, dreams about engineering into a reality. If you’re interested in finding out more about engineering check out Young Engineers online at www.youngeng.org

And, in case you flicked past it, here’s Dion’s interview again. . .

I want to be. . . an engineer

When I was growing up my passion was for ballet, and I dreamed of becoming a professional.
When I was in Year Four, an organisation called “Chance to Dance” came to my school, looking for people with the potential to become a dancer. I was chosen, and did a three-year course before joining the Royal Ballet School’s junior associate programme. After that I moved to the Central School of Ballet, where I am now.
It was always my dream to go to dance school when I was 16 — I’d like to dance with Alvin Ailey, a black-based company in America that performs a mix of ballet, African and contemporary dance.
Last year, however, I attended a four-day engineering course which  made me think I’d prefer to keep dance as a hobby, and choose engineering as a career.
On the course, I was placed with a civil-engineering company. My team’s task was to build a bridge using pasta and a glue-gun.
The winning team was the group whose bridge held the most weight. We didn’t win, but I was commended for my work and received an award that acknowledges I have a good basic understanding of engineering.
During those four days, we had several lectures from engineers. A group of car designers from Jaguar and Land-Rover really interested me. They said that after GCSEs it’s possible to do an apprenticeship. That sounds cool. Alternatively, I like the idea of working alongside architects, as a structural engineer or something.
I used to think engineering was just about science and maths. Although that is a big part of it, I now know that it includes a lot of designing, which I think I would enjoy.
Could you identify what different kinds of engineering there are? And if you don’t get an apprenticeship, what are the various ways to qualify?

Dion, 14, London

Rachel says. . .

Engineering can be a very challenging and rewarding career.  Pathways include marine, aerospace, design, chemical, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering to name but a few.  You can research these further through www.prospects.ac.uk or www.connexions-direct.com/jobs4u websites.
Apprenticeships are available in engineering but they are very competitive; find out more at www.apprenticeships.org.uk or talk to your local Connexions office, who should have details local apprenticeships.
Alternative routes are to go to college and either study a BTEC in Engineering or relevant A-levels, such as maths and physics alongside other relevant subject areas, such as electronics, product design, geography or chemistry. 
Following A-levels, you could do a degree in engineering or review the apprenticeship route again.
If you are still interested in ballet, A-levels are a good way of keeping your options open for a little longer, as you can opt for A-level dance.   Try and get some work experience to help you decide if engineering is the career for you, go for taster days at colleges, and trial any potential courses before you decide which route is for you.