Liverpool Life Sciences College is running a STEM education initiative – together with Bulgin – that gives Year 13 (A-level) students a chance to take part in a hands-on engineering project, connecting what they learn in the classroom with industrial applications. This programme was created to help address the lack of engineers in the UK by inspiring students with a chance to try out real-life industry applications. In this blog, Thisen Bird, Associate Product Manager at Bulgin, talks about how the programme is shaping future engineers, the benefits of hands-on learning, and why collaborations like this are key to bridging the gap between education and industry.
The UK will face a shortfall of one million engineers by 2030, with 59,000 roles currently unfilled annually, and a fifth of the workforce set to retire within five years. This growing skills gap underscores the importance of initiatives like this STEM programme – run in conjunction with Bulgin – to inspire and equip the next generation of engineers to meet the industry’s rising demands. Thisen commented: “Our work helps to nurture the next generation of engineers, who will bring new ideas and innovative thinking to the workplace, and ultimately address the critical shortage of skilled professionals. This motivates us to continue this course each year, giving these young minds the chance to gain valuable skills and explore whether engineering could be part of their future.”
This annual initiative, focused on expanded beam connectors, lets students dive into advanced manufacturing technologies, tackling practical engineering problems along the way. The programme gives participants hands-on experience with CAD, CAM, G-code generation, 3D printers and CNC machines as they design and build their own connectors. Teamwork is a key point during the project as they navigate the inevitable hiccups of design and manufacturing, mirroring real-world engineering environments and fostering critical thinking. This all culminates with students putting their connectors to the test against professional-grade versions at the end of the programme, seeing how their work measures up to industry standards.
Introducing students to advanced technologies and professional engineering practices opens doors to further education and career opportunities, arming them with both technical skills and an understanding of industry workflows before they go on to study engineering at university or begin apprenticeships. For Bulgin, being part of this initiative means inspiring the next generation of engineers while getting the chance to work with future faces of the industry. Thisen explained: “I visit Liverpool Life Sciences College a couple of times during the programme to guide students and see their progress firsthand.
The programme runs for 10 months, giving students plenty of time to develop their skills and tackle real-world challenges. It’s always exciting to bring something new into the mix and, this year, we plan to set them a challenge using the drone we had at the most recent electronica trade fair, allowing them to either develop a new agricultural application or extend its current functionality. My own experiences in mechanical engineering and product development – including my time as a project engineer at Bulgin – gives me an understanding of how crucial it is to develop soft skills – like project planning, team leadership and communication – alongside technical knowhow. Seeing students begin to grasp these skills and apply them to real-world problems is incredibly rewarding.”
Looking ahead, Bulgin plans to build on this successful partnership with Liverpool Life Sciences College by introducing internships and T-level placements, as well as potentially expanding the programme to other local institutions. The programme is also constantly evolving to include new materials, contemporary real-world applications, and the latest industry trends. These steps aim to inspire more students and open up opportunities for young people to explore careers in engineering, addressing the current skills gap by ensuring the next generation of engineers is ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow. “Working with students at this stage of their careers brings fresh perspectives. Their enthusiasm and ideas can really spark new ways of thinking, and it’s exciting to see how their input could influence early-stage research or innovative future projects,” Thisen concluded.