Case studies
Find out more about the LEP at your school and our LEP student ambassadors through these case studies below:Clubs in Secondary Schools
St Saviour's and St Olave's School for Girls became an LEP school in April 2007 and since then has been involved in virtually every LEP event organised. With support from the LEP, the school also runs a very successful after school Engineering Club with regular weekly meetings.
Year 9 members of the Engineering Club, Masabie Cassell; Amisha Patel; Jemma O'Sullivan and Holly Mason, have taken part in competitions and challenges run through the LEP. They said, “During our club sessions we have been working through the club activities booklet doing activities like 'Marble Run' and 'Elastic Band Buggies'. We have also built aircrafts for the Airbus Project Eggs Factor challenge. At the moment we are working on our Greenpower car and our club represented London at the national Young Engineers Awards. All the activities we have been able to do with the LEP have definitely made us consider being engineers in the future.”
LEP Activities
Little Ilford School, Newham has been involved in the majority of activities offered by the LEP both in school and externally including the Engineering Islam event, the IStructE Challenge, the Trebuchet Challenge STEM days and Year 7 taster days and the LEP residential courses have been incorporated into the school's science teaching programme.
Year 10 student, Masum Hussain, says, “During my time on the residential course, I made new friends and also learnt a great deal. I hope to attend many more in the future!”
Abu Bakar, a Year 10 student who recently attended an electronics STEM day at LSBU says, “The visit to London South Bank University was an adventure. I admired the way the lecturers teach over there, and the way they help the students with their projects. This type of educational visit is very beneficial for young students and for young, aspiring engineers who want to become a successful engineer in the future.”
Find out more about LEP activities in the Resources section.
STEM Days and Residential Courses
Head of Design and Technology at Central Foundation Girls' School in Bow ,Colin O'Donnell, has taken Year 9 on LEP STEM days and Year 10 Resistant Materials classes to the LEP residential course at Harper Adams University.
Colin says, “In school, my subject has progressed rapidly. Within the last two years we have begun running two optional classes of Resistant Materials at Key Stage 4 and plan to set up a post-16 option in 2009-2010. The girls have thoroughly enjoyed their LEP involvement which has aided and reinforced the popularity of Resistant Materials and given them an understanding of the role they could play in the future of engineering.”
Find out more about STEM days and LEP residential courses in the Teachers section.
Eddie Aimienwanu - Student Ambassador
Name: Eddie Aimienwanu
Subject: Chemical & Process Engineering BEng
What do you intend to do when you finish your degree?
I intend to further my education, hopefully with a Petroleum Engineering Masters degree.
What do you like about your subject?
I like the fact that it is broad and gives me the opportunity to work almost anywhere, from the petroleum industry to the chemical industry which includes pharmaceutical companies, food industries, process industries, cement manufacturing industries and so on: the list is endless.
Why did you become an LEP Ambassador?
I chose to become an LEP Ambassador to get a better view of engineering. Working with the LEP opens doorways to other engineering opportunities. Job prospects better for future engineers with experiences like the LEP as they get to work with other partner organisations such as The Smallpiece Trust and Royal Academy of Engineering. I chose to be an LEP Ambassador also because it enhances my CV.
What do you enjoy about being an LEP Ambassador?
Being an LEP Ambassador gives you the opportunity to interact with other students from various fields of engineering and this promotes and strengthens your networking skills. I also enjoy the support provided to me by my colleagues and organisers and last but not least, we get paid to work.
Gemma Proudley - Student Ambassador
Name Gemma Proudley
Subject BSc Quantity Surveying
What do you want to do after you finish your degree? I want to get a job working as a Quantity Surveyor whilst studying for a Masters Degree in Environmentalism and Sustainability. I will further my studies in this way so that I can have a positive impact on the construction industry.
What do you like about your subject? I get to work with a wide range of professions such as engineers from all different areas, architects, construction workers, and I meet the public. I will ultimately be involved in major construction works which are going on in London and even worldwide. Living in London now and seeing it evolve day by day is really inspiring!
Why did you become an LEP Ambassador? I signed up because it will look really good on my CV, it is a great networking opportunity and it's a flexible, well paid, part-time job.
What do you enjoy about being an LEP Ambassador? I've made some great contacts in the industry which will open doors which I wouldn't have even known about before. The events are all really hands-on so it's always fun and interesting and no two days are ever the same. I've also made some really good friends along the way!
Eric Saduwe Barcatali - Student Ambassador
Name: Eric Saduwe Barcatali
Subject: Mechanical Engineering
What do you want to do after you finish your degree?
I hope to work as a Mechanical Engineer and then go on to do my MA after a couple of years.
What do you love about your subject?
It is really challenging and it can lead to a fantastic career.
Why did you become an LEP Ambassador?
I became an LEP Ambassador because I wanted to share my passion for engineering with young people.
What do you enjoy about being an LEP Ambassador?
I enjoy seeing young people sharing my passion; it makes me feel like I’m doing something worthwhile in my spare time.
Why did you choose your course?
I was looking for something that would be challenging and fun. I’m also very good at mathematics and problem solving. Mechanical engineering combines these skills.
Why did you choose this route into Engineering (as opposed to apprenticeships etc.)?
I decided to study for a degree in engineering as I am interested in the theory side. My course includes a unit of engineering in context. This is great as it will help me in my future career.
Abioye Oyenuga - Student Ambassador
Name: Abioye Oyenuga
Subject: Architectural Technology
What do you intend to do when you finish your degree?
After I finish my degree I intend to be part of the sustainable development team on the Olympic 2012 project, providing excellent solutions to sustainable architecture challenges and eco-friendly materials for both residential and commercial buildings.
What do you like about your subject?
I love the creativity involved in designing buildings.
Why did you become an LEP Ambassador?
I became an LEP Student Ambassador because I enjoy engineering, technology and creativity in producing components of any kind. I also enjoy working with young people and encouraging them into engineering.
What do you enjoy about being an LEP Ambassador?
Working with young people at STEM days, rocket challenges, mentoring and meeting current professional engineers at various events.
Why did you choose your course?
I enjoy sketching and drawing and chose to study Architectural Technology at LSBU because it will enable me to work in any design and new development scheme anywhere in the world.
Why did you choose this route into engineering (as opposed
to apprenticeships etc.)?
I decided to choose this route into the technology side of architecture because it focuses mainly on the role of engineering in the technical performance of building design. At degree level in university, I have great opportunities in both theory and practical lessons compared to an apprenticeship.
Kamlah Kew - STEM Ambassador
Name: Kamlah Kew
Job Title: Principal Traffic Control Engineer
Employer: Transport for London (TfL) - www.tfl.gov.uk
Industry/business sector: Traffic and Transport
Highest qualification: MSc Physics
What attracted you to engineering? I was drawn to engineering as I found it to be the best combination of my academic interests in maths, physics, art and design and I liked the idea of using my technical knowledge in a creative way to design things and solve problems.What do you do on a day to day basis? There is no typical day in my job as there are so many things to do, but some of the activities that I do as part of my job are; carry out junction surveys, design traffic junction layouts, advise clients on designs solutions, inspect junction installations, manage my suppliers to ensure that the schemes are delivered on time.
What is the best part of your current job? Seeing a set of traffic lights that I designed on and working.
What are your hours like? Typically, I work 35 – 40 hours a week, sometimes I have to do overtime on weekends and evenings. We get 6 weeks leave a year.
Where do you think you want to go from here and what options are open to you? I would like to get involved in more big projects i.e. Olympics and Cross Rail. In the future I would consider going abroad to work on infrastructure improvements in developing countries.
What kind of person do you need to be to do this job? I think anyone who is looking for a varied, challenging and rewarding job. As an engineer you get to use a very wide range of skills, not just academic skills, but also problem solving skills, communication skills, interpersonal skills and commercial awareness. It is a career that allows for fulfilling personal development, encourages new ways of thinking, and fosters a 'can do' attitude.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of going into engineering/science career? Go for it! It is a highly respected profession and is a ticket to travel the world, as good engineers are valued everywhere. In addition you are given the opportunity to be a part of high profile projects/developments that really make tangible differences to peoples everyday lives.
Sharan Gill - STEM Ambassador
Name: Sharan Gill
Job title: Engineer - Structures
Employer: Transport for London (TfL) www.tfl.gov.uk
Industry/business sector: Traffic, Transportation and Engineering
Highest qualification: MEng
Time in employment: 3.5 years
What attracted you to this job? I wanted to work in London as a civil engineer and TfL had a good Civil Engineering Graduate Scheme.
What do you do on a day to day basis? I work in the Highway Structures Team, we are responsible for maintaining our structures (bridges, subways, retaining walls, culverts, etc, that support the Red Routes in London). I check the inspection reports that come through for our structures and use them to identify maintenance work and any further investigation needed, as well as having a few structure investigation projects that I manage. I occasionally also look at building proposals that may affect our structures, giving advice to internal departments and external parties about what is and isn’t acceptable.
What is the best part of your current job? I have my own projects to manage, so can get as involved in the detail as I like. I often arrange to go out on site with the consultants as it’s the best place to learn about how structures deteriorate and how we can best repair, refurbish and maintain them.
What are you most proud of? It’s the knowledge that the work I do really helps people who work, live and travel in London, even though most people have no idea of all the work going on behind the scenes.
What are the perks like? The best benefit is the staff travelcard for you and one other person who lives at the same address.
How did you get to where you are today? I chose science based GCSEs and A-Levels then went to University to do an Engineering Science degree. Following that I got a place on the TfL Civil Engineering Graduate Scheme. The scheme let me have short placements around the company. After two years I got a permanent position with the Highways Structures team, and that’s where I still am today.
Where do you think you want to go from here and what options are open to you? I’m aiming to get Chartered with the Institute of Civil Engineers in the next few years, and I’d like to do some of the design work on a few of the major refurbishment/strengthening projects we’ve got on programmed before going for my review. After all that I’m going to look into specialising in structural engineering, getting more management experience and also working abroad, but I’m still open to other options.
What kind of person do you need to be to do this job? It’s not all about design and calculations. Common sense and communication are big parts of the job too; being able to explain not just what, but also why we are doing the things we do is very useful.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of going into engineering/science career? Don’t be put off by the stereotypes. There are so many different jobs you can go into as an engineer, and so many different ways to get there, from apprenticeships, trainee schemes, on the job learning to degree and diploma courses.
Caroline Gideon-Adeniyi - STEM Ambassador
Name: Caroline Gideon-Adeniyi
Degree course: BSc (Hon) Cosmetic Science
University: University of the Arts London (London College of Fashion)
University website: www.fashion.arts.ac.uk
Industry/business sector: Cosmetics and Toiletries
What attracted you to this course? During school I always enjoyed conducting scientific experiments and I was also very creative so when I came across this course, the fact that I was able to combine my creative skills with an applied science course which focused solely on the development of cosmetic products, was very appealing.
What do you do on a day to day basis? Most days we receive lectures from guest speakers who are well known in the industry. Sometimes we have practical lab sessions where we can experiment and test out our formulations. Our day varies from time to time depending on our projects and assessments.
What do you find most interesting about your course? Unlike normal laboratories I have the opportunity to use very unique and specialised machinery tailored for use only in the cosmetics industry.
How did you get to where you are today? After completing my GCSE’s in school I took on a Medical Science Diploma at college and completed an intensive two week summer course in chemistry held at the university.
Where do you want to do when you finish your course? I would like to go into research and development as most of the graduates on this course are currently employed in positions like this, although this course also prepares you for work in various other areas also.
What kind of person do you need to be to do this course? You need to be someone that is friendly and approachable as there is a lot of team work is involved. You also need to be creative, good at problem solving and you need to have a good eye for detail.
What advice would you give to someone thinking of going into engineering/science career? First, research the requirements needed for your ideal career in magazines, websites, etc. then tailor your education choices to match them and take on related work experience on the way.
