COMMUNICATIONS BRIEFING: 23 February to 2 March 2018

Formula Student’s announcement that the competition will have a driverless car element for the competition’s 20th anniversary was picked up by the trade press. The press office also released reactive statements in response to reports of the shortage of gas supplies, Dame Sally Davies’ report on the impacts of daily pollution on people’s health, and Network Rail’s announcements regarding the digital railway. The Institution also responded to Engineering UK’s State of Engineering report, which emphasised that an improved understanding of apprenticeships could unlock engineering talent.

Institution in the News

• 01/03/2018 Formula Student adds autonomous element for 20^th anniversary – The Engineer

  News that Formula Student 2018 will see 130 student teams from over 30 countries take part in the competition in July. Also featured in Environment Guru, Engineering Specifier, Eureka!

• 01/03/2018 National Grid issues 'gas deficit warning' – Networks Online

  Dr Jenifer Baxter responds to National Grid’s announcement of a 'gas deficit warning', as supplies slipped 48 million cubic metres short of demand amidst extreme weather conditions.

• 01/03/2018 Young engineers up for IMechE Railway Challenge – Machinery Market

  News that student teams from the UK, Germany and Egypt are among those designing and building miniature locomotives for the Institution’s Railway Challenge 2018.

• 26/02/2018 Avoid losing out when power fails – Daily Business

  Story about power outages which quotes Dr Jenifer Baxter commenting that under current Government policy, it is almost impossible for UK electricity demand to be met by 2025.

• 25/02/2018 Remote control hovercraft and robotics among the attractions at SkillsFest 2018 – The Mail

  Article about the SkillsFest which quotes a young individual who is interested in pursuing a career in engineering and was grateful to speak to the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

• 26/03/2018 Birmingham students look to the future with Gulf – Forecourt Shop

  An announcement that Gulf, the fuel retailer, is supporting Birmingham City University as they prepare for Formula Student.

• 2/03/2018 Volvo : I create new things – 4 Traders

  News that the Volvo Group photo challenge was won by an individual who took a photo of the Formula Student 2017 event.

• 2/03/2018: Region recognised for encouraging more female engineers – Business Daily

  News that Carolyn Griffiths, a former President of the Institution, visited the Leeds-based business and commended their efforts to encourage more women into the sector. Also featured in Business Link.

PUBLIC AFFAIRS

• Following a meeting with Jim Shannon MP, Peter Finegold, Head of Education Policy, continued to liaise with Jim Shannon’s office regarding the drafting of an Early Day Motion and Ministerial correspondence in order to highlight that engineering is rarely encountered in mainstream education, despite it being intrinsic to the UK’s future economic success through the fourth industrial revolution.
• The Institution was mentioned in the House of Lords by Lord Teverson during discussion of the Nuclear Safeguards Bill. He quoted from Dr Jenifer Baxter’s Brexit: Energy Security evidence, where she stated that “the nuclear sector relies heavily on skilled workers from Europe”.