Sailors aim to inspire next generation of engineers

ROYAL Navy personnel from HMS Sultan took part in one of the south coast's biggest career events promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (Stem) to young people '“ The Big Bang @ Solent.
The personnel from HMS Sultan who were at the Big Bang @ Solent eventThe personnel from HMS Sultan who were at the Big Bang @ Solent event
The personnel from HMS Sultan who were at the Big Bang @ Solent event

Sailors from the Defence College of Technical Training’s Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival Equipment School and Defence School of Marine Engineering represented the Royal Navy alongside more than 65 interactive displays from across all sectors of the Stem industry at The Hilton at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton.

More than 1,000 11 to 16-year-olds travelled from across the Solent region, from Poole across to the Havant area.

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Cath Longhurst, chief executive of the Education Business Partnership, which organised the event said: ‘Today is really about inspiring young people. We know that science subjects are really important and we know that science is key for the economy and for the future of technology and engineering.’

‘What we really want to do is to capture young people’s interest and make them realise that science and technology could be something for them, and at least help them to consider it as an idea for a future career.’

The Royal Navy’s display stand included a Lynx Mk8 helicopter, with children taking the opportunity to climb aboard to explore the aircraft.

With companies and organisations from all sectors of Stem industry represented, the Royal Navy University Technical College team were also there to promote UTC Portsmouth, which will open in September 2017, specialising in electrical and mechanical engineering and advanced manufacturing.

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Lieutenant Paul Mulroy was among the many Stem ambassadors in attendance from HMS Sultan.

He said: ‘We’re here to help provide answers to some of the burning questions that the students may have and can’t get answers to elsewhere.

‘We’ve been taking time with them explaining about the many branch options within engineering that may be open to them and have also been helping the students to get their own ideas down on to paper. The feedback from the students involved has been really positive.’