Another colleague shared a promising article by The Engineer reporting that those studying engineering had risen by 14% over the last ten years, against an average of 5.2% for other subject areas. As promising as these figures are, we should be mindful that engineering is about problem-solving and the best teams for problem-solving are shown to be diverse in their experience.

To recruit the best people into engineering, we must project an inclusive image – which is why the AEMT is pleased to have signed up to The Tomorrow’s Engineers Code: a commitment to work toward common goals, to increase the number and diversity of young people entering engineering careers. We are raising funds to work with Primary Engineer – a charity aimed at introducing engineering to primary school children. No matter where our focus is at the moment, we should not neglect nurturing our future engineers. Importantly, we need to nurture children from a wide range of different backgrounds – this is the best way to navigate current and future challenges. Please consider donating what you can afford by signing our pledge here: http://bit.ly/3lF0YG0.

The AEMT, exists to help members connect, share good practice, and learn. This year we have started several initiatives to complement this mission. I'd like to encourage all members who want to expand their network and learn from others to sign up! Firstly, our Peer Groups are being very well received. Meeting roughly every quarter, the meetings are a safe place to problem solve, learn from each other, and see how others run their businesses. They are a great opportunity for members to tour each other’s businesses and make connections within the industry. We have also launched Business Breakfasts this year. Meeting online every few weeks, each meeting will focus on a different topic of interest selected by the members, lasting only an hour in the morning, and we hope they will inspire members for the day ahead.