Nicholas Rowe
Project Support Officer, EngineeringUK
Nick works very closely with the Code community. He manages the recruitment and onboarding process for new Signatories, and supports the Senior Code Manager to design and deliver the online event programme.
Reflections on Tomorrow’s Engineers Live 2026
The day brought together industry and outreach practitioners from the Code community with a shared goal: building a more inclusive, confident, and future-ready engineering and technology workforce.
Across an inspiring day of keynote speeches, lightning talks, workshops, and unconference sessions, 1 message came through clearly: no single organisation can tackle the challenges facing the sector alone. Long-term thinking, collaboration, and meaningful engagement with young people are essential if we want to prepare for the next wave of change.
Looking beyond the short term
Opening the conference in a packed auditorium, EngineeringUK Chair Iain Conn challenged us to move away from short-term thinking and focus on building for the future. Rather than competing for the same talent, organisations need to invest in talent pipelines much earlier – supporting young people to see STEM careers as real, achievable options.
That theme was reinforced in a speech from Mike Sewart, Chief Technology Officer at our conference supporter, Thales. He compared today to the technological shifts of the 1990s. With AI and rapid innovation reshaping the world of work, Mike highlighted 3 priorities to help organisations prepare for the future:
- diversity – employers need to embed diversity in their workforce planning to attract a wide range of talent and drive innovation
- problem solving – the best engineers are problem solvers and it’s an important transferrable skill
- collaboration – described by Mike as the ‘superpower of tomorrow’, working together is essential if we are to navigate the challenges ahead
I would argue the Code community is already thinking about the future – united in a collective mission to inspire more young people from all backgrounds to choose engineering and technology careers.
Understanding young people – and the people who influence them
The lightning talks offered powerful insight into the realities young people face today.
Baz Ramaiah from Youth Employment UK shared findings from the Youth Voice Census 2025. He described the rise of ‘generation meh’ – young people who feel uncertain and under-prepared for the world of work. Young people value work experience opportunities and careers guidance, but access to both is declining. And while their confidence in soft skills like teamwork and creativity is growing, many young people still don’t know what employers are looking for. Baz highlighted the need for a coordinated and consistent, nationally funded approach with tailored local delivery focusing on core skills and enrichment to ensure no young person is left behind.
Becca Gooch, Head of Research at EngineeringUK, reminded us of the critical role parents and carers play as the main source of careers advice for most young people. While engineering and technology are viewed positively, many parents and carers feel they lack confidence talking about these careers with their children, especially engineering. Gendered attitudes around who can be an engineer are also prevalent. This presents an ongoing barrier to encouraging more girls into these careers. It also presents an opportunity for employers, educators, and outreach practitioners to engage and inform parents about engineering and tech careers.
Nicola Hall, Director of Education at The Careers & Enterprise Company, explored how work experience is evolving. In a competitive job market where careers are no longer linear, young people need flexible, well-designed, and meaningful experiences that can be integrated into their education. The CEC’s Careers Hubs are helping pioneer this new approach by linking local businesses with schools and supporting SMEs to offer work experience opportunities for young people. Nicola also highlighted how Careers Hubs upskill teachers through industry encounters, helping them to understand regional career opportunities and bring real-world context to the curriculum.
National Apprenticeship Week: 3 apprentices shared their insights
One of the most powerful moments from this year’s event was hearing from engineering and tech apprentices Arjun, Kirsty, and Natasha. Their talks offered an honest insight into what it really takes for young people to access and succeed in apprenticeship pathways.
Soft skills came through as critical. From teamwork to communication and problem solving, the apprentices emphasised that these are what employers look for most during the application process. Yet many young people struggle to recognise and articulate the skills they already have. A recurring theme was how competitive and demanding apprenticeship application processes can be. All speakers reflected on how underprepared they felt when applying. Not because of a lack of ability, but because teachers aren’t often equipped to support apprenticeship applications in the same way they are university routes.
For Arjun, this challenging experience motivated him to develop a mock assessment centre at his college to help future apprentices prepare with confidence. His simple but innovative idea is a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t always require complex, costly solutions – often it starts with listening to young people and responding to what they actually need.
The apprentices also challenged the idea of who can be an apprentice, and highlighted the power of role models. Kirsty, an experienced apprentice, showed us how varied previous jobs – including a stint working on a ranch – gave her the resilience and confidence to pursue an apprenticeship in a largely male dominated profession. And Natasha, echoing earlier insights from Becca Gooch, described the crucial influence of her mother in encouraging and supporting her to apply for an apprenticeship. All three emphasised the importance of representation over tokenism – seeing people like themselves in engineering had helped them to feel they belonged in the sector.
With the conference taking place during National Apprenticeship Week, hearing from Arjun, Kirsty, and Natasha was a reminder that that young people are not lacking ambition or capability. Their stories show us that engineering and technology careers can be dynamic, rewarding, and impactful. More still needs to be done but, by working together, we can better support more young people to find their place in the sector.
Collaborative practice in action
After an energising start to the day, three collaborative breakout sessions created space for deeper discussion, shared problem-solving, and hands-on participation.
Tackling challenges together: help inform the Gender pathways into engineering and tech collective
The Gender pathways taskforce brings together expertise from over 40 organisations on a mission to significantly increase the number of girls in engineering and technology education pathways at age 18. In this workshop, delegates heard of the project’s progress before breaking out to feedback on the approaches, and consider learnings for their own work.
Key takeaways this session included:
- the need to move from competition-led interventions to inclusive, project-based learning, which evidence shows is more engaging and appealing to girls
- investing in early, well-structured peer mentoring is a powerful tool when centred on young people’s voices and supported by training and resources. Delegates discussed practical questions such as how to match mentors and mentees, how to support mentors effectively, and how to ensure programmes work for students with additional needs
- adopting a whole-school approach, with senior leadership buy-in, shared action plans, and collaboration between schools will help to scale what works
Throughout the session, delegates thoughtfully contributed ideas, challenged assumptions, and shared examples from their own experience.
What is social value? And what does it mean for STEM outreach?
This panel discussion unpacked the often complex concept of social value and explored what it means in practice for STEM outreach and education. Speakers from RWE, Norfolk County Council, Social Value Portal, and Springpod shared perspectives on how social value can act as a catalyst for longer-term, more meaningful collaboration.
Key insights from the discussion included:
- intentionally embedding social value and measuring it meaningfully – balance short-term outcomes with early intervention and long-term impact rather than focusing only on end-point metrics like recruitment
- building strong partnerships, especially with voluntary, community and social enterprise organisations and local authorities, to respond effectively to place-based needs
- demonstrating impact through data, storytelling, and shared frameworks while keeping approaches flexible, people-centred, and grounded in real experiences
Small things, big shift: learning from each other to improve practice
This interactive workshop focused on how the sector can better share learning and build a culture of peer-to-peer exchange. Drawing on contributions from across the room, delegates explored what helps – and hinders – effective collaboration and continuous improvement.
Several practical ideas emerged, including:
- coordinating outreach regionally so organisations don’t all work with the same schools
- embedding volunteering meaningfully rather than treating it as a one-off activity
- creating internal networks within large organisations to spread expertise more widely
Delegates also reflected on evaluation – not just collecting data but using it to learn and adapt. Simple shifts, such as asking, ‘what would you do differently?’ rather than ‘what went wrong?’, were highlighted as ways to encourage honest reflection. The session encouraged collaboration, with delegates sharing builds and challenges, and learning from each other’s experiences.
Various pledges were made by the groups to share their micro learnings in the Code community's LinkedIn group.
Together, the breakout sessions reinforced a central theme of the day: progress happens when insight is shared, practice is challenged, and people are willing to work together differently.
Unconference sessions: Learning from each other
The unconference hour was a more informal, participant-led space for discussion, and encouraged critical reflection on current sector practice. They centred on open conversation, shared challenges, and collective problem-solving, allowing delegates to engage with the topics that matter most to them.
Sessions explored how to have meaningful discussions with Careers Leaders and how to tell more compelling stories about engineering to younger children. Others focused on purpose and values – helping young people connect issues they care about, like climate change, with potential careers.
Discussions highlighted the importance of sustained engagement over one-off activity. Topics included embedding STEM outreach into workplace culture, running longer-term projects with schools, and building deeper partnerships between corporates and delivery organisations.
What made these sessions particularly powerful was the diversity of voices in the room and the appetite to learn from each other. Practitioners, employers, academics, and outreach professionals shared their experience and knowledge, and tested ideas. Delegates spoke candidly about what isn’t working as well as what is, creating an atmosphere of trust and shared learning.
A future powered by engineers
The day closed with an inspiring keynote from Yasmin Ali, chartered chemical engineer, energy leader at RWE, author, and STEM Ambassador. Reflecting on her own journey and the global energy transition, she reminded us that while solutions are rarely perfect, progress depends on engineers – and on helping the next generation see themselves as part of that future.
Moving forward together
Tomorrow’s Engineers Live 2026 reinforced why collaboration sits at the heart of The Code. Whether through sharing evidence, supporting schools, designing better work experience, or amplifying young people’s voices, we have a collective responsibility to make a lasting difference for young people.
The focus now is to take the energy, ideas, and partnerships from the day and turn them into sustained action. Because preparing for tomorrow’s engineers starts today.
If reading this blog has left you feeling inspired to make a difference, then why not join The Tomorrow’s Engineers Code? We’ll drive conversations from the conference forward through our Code explores… series, as well as collaborative opportunities exclusively for the Code community.
Thanks to everyone who made the day a success
Thank you to our event supporter, Thales, and to all our wonderful speakers who gave their time and energy to make the conference such a thought provoking, successful day:
- Amy Everson, Business Transformation Manager, Baker Hughes
- Andy Dillow, COO, Springpod
- Anna McChesney-Gordon, Chief Strategy Officer, Social Value Portal
- Arjun Atwal, Digital and Technology Solutions Degree Apprentice, E.ON
- Baz Ramaiah, Policy and Research Director, Youth Employment UK
- Becca Gooch, Head of Research, EngineeringUK
- Becky Parker MBE, Director, Project Earth; Physics teacher; Visiting Professor, School of Physics and Astronomy, Queen Mary, University of London
- Becs Healy, Careers Inspiration Manager, EngineeringUK
- Beth Bramley, Head of Corporate Relationships, EngineeringUK
- Bhakti Jena, Aerospace engineering student and Technical Director of Performance, S-RC Cup
- Carlo Liu, Group Head of Enterprise, Employability & Careers, Capital City College Group
- Dan Powell, Head of Neon, EngineeringUK
- Emmanuelle Chazarin, Neon Content Manager, EngineeringUK
- Dr Hilary Leevers, CEO, EngineeringUK
- Iain Conn, Chair, EngineeringUK
- James MacKay, Head of STEM UK, Thales
- Jan Feeney MEd, Head of Employment & Skills, Norfolk County Council
- Joe Shimwell, Senior Lecturer and Primary Outreach Specialist at NUSTEM, Northumbria University
- Jonathan Sanderson, Assistant Professor at NUSTEM, Northumbria University
- Jon Mallott, Head of Strategic Partnerships, Springpod
- Kim Biddulph, Head of Engagement Projects, EngineeringUK
- Kirsty Jones, Apprentice Electrical Fitter, UK Power Networks
- Laura Butcher, UK Offshore Early Careers Programme Lead, RWE
- Lucy Avery, Marketing Campaigns Manager, EngineeringUK
- Maria Rossini, Head of Education, British Science Association
- Mark Waters, Co-founder and Head of Research & Programme Delivery, 4ward Futures
- Mike Sewart, Chief Technology Officer, Thales in the UK
- Morgan Payne, WISE EDI Content Specialist, Institution of Engineering and Technology
- Natasha Keogh, Civil Engineering Degree Apprentice, Transport for London
- Nicola Hall, Director of Education, The Careers & Enterprise Company
- Pete Hewage, Founder and CEO, S-RC Cup
- Rebecca Peacock, Director, Association for Science Education
- Sarah Johnson, Global Community Investment Manager, Johnson Matthey
- Sarah Punshon, Artistic Director, One Tenth Human
- Shamineh Mavalvala, Delivery and Outreach Specialist for WISE, Institution of Engineering and Technology
- Shane McCracken, Executive Director, Mangorolla CIC
- Susi Farnworth, Head of EDI, EngineeringUK
- Dr Vicky Mason, National Programme Coordinator, Orbyts
- Yasmin Ali, Team Lead for RWE and author
