Supporting new engineering talent

One of the things we have always been committed to is offering support and opportunities to young people who are interested in engineering as a career. Over the years, we have established a social support budget to fund this commitment, and sponsored or funded a number of initiatives, although this necessarily had to be reduced during the pandemic. This includes supporting students – both local and national – through work experience placements, during degrees and other qualifications, offering experience to dozens of school and post-secondary young people and raising funds for worthwhile youth-related charities.

This autumn, we’re delighted to announce funding for disabled students from The Ridgeway School to find specialist work placements. Each student will be accompanied on their placement by a trained helper, and Cascade is supplying funds to make this happen. This is an exciting initiative, helping to give young people the equal opportunities they deserve, and to give local companies the opportunity to show they are genuine in their support of inclusivity and equality.

The Ridgeway School is a special school for children aged2-19 who have severe and profound multiple learning difficulties. Based in Farnham, the school is ideally placed to work with a wide range of local organisations, giving their pupils some exceptional opportunities.

Engineering placements

Over the next couple of months, we are also welcoming other work placement students to Cascade. Later this month, Natasha is joining us from her school for a week’s work experience. Over the university Christmas vacation, Jack will be working with us – he is currently studying Aerospace Engineering at Leeds University, and this is a great opportunity ahead of considering taking on a year’s placement for the next academic year.

We’re looking forward to building on these foundations –which also include university industry placements and short-term work experience students from the Farnborough College of Technology. It’s a great way to support people at the very start of their engineering careers, and it has also turned out to be mutually beneficial, as some students have returned to Cascade as permanent staff after finishing their qualifications.

Cascade Technical Director Rob Harborne says: “It has always been important to us that we support people who are interested in a career in engineering. We also want to give back to our local communities. We are looking forward to working with The Ridgeway School to support their students, and to welcoming new placement students into the business over the next couple of months.”

Photo by ThisisEngineering RAEng on Unsplash