Micro-Epsilon supports STEM event

On 29 November 2013, Micro-Epsilon attended a STEM careers event held at Our Lady's Queen of Peace Catholic Engineering College in Skelmersdale. Together with other engineering employers such as BAE Systems and Pepsico, Micro-Epsilon was able to present and demonstrate its range of displacement sensors and temperature measurement products to the youngsters. This included a demonstration of a Micro-Epsilon thermal imaging camera, which created considerable interest from students.

Also supporting the event were institutions such as the Institute of Physics, technical organisations, colleges and universities. More than 200 pupils and students aged between 15 and 18 were able to see technology in action, find out about the participating companies and ask questions about the qualifications they would need to enter an engineering profession. Micro-Epsilon also demonstrated the European and global aspects of working for an engineering company, the growth of women in engineering, as well as highlighting Micro-Epsilon's involvement in the Bloodhound SSC project.

The aim of the nationwide STEM initiative is to help enlighten young people about the challenges and opportunities presented by STEM subjects. The aim is to encourage these young adults to study STEM courses in further or higher education and to take an interest in a career in engineering.

Industry's need for graduates in STEM subjects is high. Since 2009, on average, only 40 per cent of those who graduate in the UK do so with a degree in a STEM subject - with just 1 in 20 of these going on to work in manufacturing.

Amanda Byrne, Marketing Manager at Micro-Epsilon UK comments: "The UK is still suffering from a lack of young people wanting to move into manufacturing after leaving school or college. But the recession has demonstrated just how crucial manufacturing and engineering are to our economy. It is therefore essential that we attract the brightest young people to all types of jobs in manufacturing, from production and engineering roles through to marketing, HR and purchasing. By supporting local STEM events, Micro-Epsilon can communicate to these youngsters exactly what engineering as a career is all about and the opportunities it can offer."

In 2014, Micro-Epsilon UK will be developing a series of technical sensor workshops to support the STEM initiative. These will be held at the company's new offices in Birkenhead, Merseyside. For more information, please email [email protected] or visit the website at www.micro-epsilon.co.uk.