The partnership allows Anglia Ruskin to further understand what engineering businesses need in terms of employee skill sets in a changing environment.
Pacepacker’s business development manager Paul Wilkinson said: “It was very much a joint thing. Anglia Ruskin want to approach companies for support and a perspective of real world applications, while Pacepacker can offer placements for interns and graduates.”
According to the Royal Academy of Engineering, the demand for graduate engineers exceeds demand across all sectors of the economy, with skilled engineering roles currently accounting for 8% of the UK’s workforce.
Other sources suggest that the Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) sectors will need 160,000 engineers, scientists and technicians each year by 2020.
“It’s in everybody’s interest to show people from an early age that engineering doesn’t mean having to stand over a machine and that there are many different interesting and viable career options,” added Wilkinson.
“The feedback we received was that everyone felt they got something from it,” says Paul. “After Christmas we will try and formalise our plans more. There are many opportunities and we look forward to working together in the future.”
Ahad Ramezanpour, a research fellow at Anglia Ruskin, said: “The Pacepacker experience is really useful in helping us add practicality to our courses. They are a company with a futuristic view backed with strong organisation, and have been a really good example of a local company and university working for mutual benefit.”
