“Thank you for the programme I really enjoyed it. It was very insightful and I now know what I definitely want to go into after university.”
“I enjoyed learning specifically about how Atkins works and operates, it was really interesting to learn about the company and its visions and values.”
“I enjoyed learning the in-depth overview of working in the engineering sector, in lots of different industries, it really was interesting.”
Founded in 1938, Atkins is one of the world’s most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies. Its work includes planning, designing and enabling complex transportation, energy and infrastructure projects, with work including developing smart cities and using technology to transform design. Atkins is keen to support the STEM skills agenda and be the employer of choice within its sector.
Atkins presented us with a bold brief, which evolved with each cohort that enrolled in the programme. It was looking for “future innovators”, to break down stereotypes about the industry and raise awareness of opportunities at Atkins.
The programme was to showcase different business units including Transport, Infrastructure, Aerospace, Nuclear and clean power, and Faithful+Gould, Atkin’s integrated project and programme management consultancy .
There was also a desire to demonstrate the equality, diversity and inclusion culture at Atkins, and reach a diverse cohort. As well as potentially building a diverse talent pool for their careers and apprenticeships programmes, Atkins wanted to inspire the future educational choices of students, encouraging relevant course choices at A-Level and University.
The “Atkins Future Innovators” programme was designed to give students an appreciation of what goes in to designing and managing large-scale infrastructure projects. It was open to students aged 14 and up, and contained nine hours of engaging and interactive content.
The opening module, “Building a Better World '' covered some of the exciting projects shaping how we live, including smart cities, urban development and municipal infrastructure. Students then moved on to live webinars and interactive quizzes covering the different roles in aerospace, defence, security and technology, and pathways into them.
The next module tackled the vital area of clean energy and power, and the various roles within this increasingly important sector. To complement this, the final subject was sustainability, covering the specifics of sustainable business strategy and how students can be part of a net-zero carbon future.
Throughout the programme, students were engaged through quizzes, interactive exercises and webinars, available both live and offline, allowing them to complete elements at their own pace. On completion, they were awarded a certificate to help them with future applications for placements both with Atkins and wider industry.
Over the six different cohorts from October 2021 to July 2023, 3,717 students enrolled in the programme. They clearly enjoyed the course, rating it 8.2 out of 10 on average, and 8.4 out of 10 on whether they would recommend it to a friend.
In the largest cohort of 1,062 students in July 2023, 37% said they had excellent awareness of careers in the sector after completing the programme, this just 2% before they started. Of the February 2023 cohort, 91% felt somewhat or very confident about finding a job in the future, whereas only 54% felt this way before undertaking the programme.
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