Supporting the Next Generation of Engineers at NMITE
This morning I had the pleasure of joining seven other industry professionals as a judge at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) on Blackfriars Street, Hereford, following an invitation from Associate Professor Peter Metcalfe.
It was a genuine privilege to be involved in such an innovative project and to spend time with the next generation of engineers, seeing first-hand how they approach a real-world design challenge.
From Concept to Creation
The challenge presented to the students was both creative and commercially focused. Working in teams, they were tasked with designing and producing an award for a prestigious Malvern Awards Ceremony, taking their idea from initial concept through to a finished prototype.
The exercise wasn't simply about creating an attractive trophy. Students had to consider every aspect of the design process, including functionality, manufacturing techniques, material selection, sustainability, cost, durability and commercial viability.
As the judging panel, our role was to assess not only the finished product but also the thought process behind it.
Judging with a Commercial Perspective
As Managing Director of the Loo of the Year Awards, I was particularly honoured to be invited because of my experience in organising and presenting national awards. Every January we present hundreds of certificates and 19 trophies, recognising excellence across the UK, so I understand what makes an award something that recipients will genuinely treasure.
When assessing each team's prototype, I was looking at much more than appearance. I considered questions such as:
- Does the design reflect the prestige of an awards ceremony?
- Is it practical to manufacture consistently?
- Have sustainable materials and production methods been considered?
- Is the quality suitable for a premium award?
- Would it stand the test of time?
- Most importantly, would I place an order?
The judging process mirrored a commercial tender, very much in the style of The Apprentice. Each team presented their work before answering questions from the judging panel about their design choices, the materials selected, how they had responded to design changes throughout the project, and the overall commercial potential of their product.
Following each presentation, every judge had to decide whether they would purchase the award for one year, two years, multiple years, or not at all.
Innovation, Creativity and Confidence
What impressed me most was the enthusiasm, confidence and professionalism shown by every team.
Each group approached the challenge differently, bringing their own creativity and engineering knowledge to the table. Some focused on innovative materials, others on sustainability, while others demonstrated exceptional attention to manufacturing processes or customer requirements.
It was encouraging to see students thinking beyond simply producing an attractive design and instead considering the wider commercial realities that businesses face when developing new products.
Industry and Education Working Together
Experiences like this highlight the value of collaboration between education and industry. Giving students the opportunity to present their work to professionals, receive constructive feedback and experience a realistic commercial evaluation provides invaluable preparation for their future careers.
Equally, it gives those of us in industry the opportunity to support, encourage and inspire the talented engineers of tomorrow.
The overall results will be announced on Friday, with the winning team being the one that secures the greatest number of 'orders' from the judging panel. I wish every team the very best of luck.
Thank you to Associate Professor Peter Metcalfe and everyone at NMITE for inviting me to take part in such a rewarding experience. It was a real privilege to contribute, and I look forward to seeing these talented students continue to develop as they progress through their degrees.
The future of engineering is certainly in capable hands.
