STEM champion quits as head of Engineering UK

One of the leading campaigners for attracting more young people to careers in STEM, Paul Jackson, is stepping down from his role as head of Engineering UK, one of the country’s biggest non-for-profit organisations promoting STEM.

“Paul will be a hard act to follow,” says Malcolm Brinded, Chairman of the Engineering UK Board, praising Jackson's contributions to UK’s engineering. 

Engineering UK works in partnership with the engineering community to promote the vital role of engineers and engineering and inspire the next generation. During his time at the helm of the organisation, Jackson launched ambitious programmes aimed at getting young people excited by STEM, including the Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Fair, Big Bang Near Me and Tomorrow’s Engineers, a careers engagement programme in schools and colleges.

While the first Fair in 2009 had only 6,500 participants, Engineering UK is expecting about 70,000 at the event next month – Jackson’s last while at the help of the organisation. The aim, he has told PE, is to reach one million people a year “with inspiring messages about engineering”.

“I’ve had the opportunity to tell Prime Ministers about engineering and talk with head teachers about STEM careers. I have worked with some great institutions and met people who volunteer masses of time to help local schools. And, I’ve heard the stories from young people," says Jackson. 

“There are the winners of the Young Scientist of the Year and Young Engineer of the Year who have created brilliant innovations on top of their school studies. There are also the young people who didn’t make it first time and have found a vocational course, perhaps an apprenticeship, that brings learning alive for them. Really moving.”


The programmes have had support from industry and several charities, as well as schools, colleges, universities and the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAE).
“Engaging young people with engineering is absolutely critical to sustaining and growing the profession and we thank Jackson for his significant contribution,” says Philip Greenish, RAE’s Chief Executive.

According to Brinded, the projects created by Paul Jackson reached reaching nearly half a million children a year, showing “encouraging signs of increased enthusiasm and choice of STEM subjects and engineering by young people”.