Category : News

• The winners of The Big Bang Competition have been announced today, including the new UK Young Engineer and UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens

• Young people’s winning projects include an automatic pill dispenser and an alternative telecommunications system for emergency communications in rural areas

The winners of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers Competition have been announced today, including the top awards of the UK Young Engineer and UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens. Held at The Big Bang Fair, the awards ceremony followed a day-long showcase of impressive young talent.

The Big Bang Competition, run by charity EngineeringUK, is a nationwide competition for young engineers, scientists and technologists aged 11 to 18, which recognises and rewards talented young innovators. There are a range of awards and prizes up for grabs, with the top 3 winners each receiving £1,000 prize money.

UK Young Engineer of the Year 2025

Aaron Lord, a year 12 student from Greenhead College in Yorkshire, has been crowned UK Young Engineer of the Year for his project ‘Autopill’. Inspired to support those taking regular medication, particularly people with dementia and memory difficulties, Aaron created an automatic pill dispenser. Using mechanics, electronics and computer-aided design (CAD), the ‘Autopill’ allows users to insert their pills for the week and includes a pulsing light and bleeping noise to signal that pills are ready to take. The impressive device also includes a health monitoring component which can track users’ heart rate and oximetry when placing their finger on a sensor.

Aaron commented “I’m thrilled to accept this award – it’s incredible! The Competition has been a brilliant experience from start to finish. It allowed me to take something that I thought was a good idea and turn it into something tangible.”  

Engineering Award winners

Gayatri Thiru, year 8 at Invicta Grammar School, Kent, is the Junior Engineering winner for their design for a solar powered, remote-controlled machine that harnesses nanotechnology to clean oil spills in the ocean. It uses magnetite nanoparticles, which are tiny particles that attract oil and repel water. Once these particles soak up the oil, magnetic fields will be used to pull them back out of the water for recovery.  

Om Kuravinakop, from St Olave’s and St Saviour’s Grammar School in London, is the Intermediate Engineering winner. Om, year 11, created a hand-held air quality monitor for asthma patients that tracks fine particulate matter, ozone, nitrogen dioxide and humidity. It also syncs to a smartphone to help people with asthma monitor risk levels with a view to preventing attacks.  

Grace Palmer, in year 12 at WMG Academy for Young Engineers Solihull, is the Senior Engineering winner for her project ‘Thrive transfer aid’. Inspired by the challenges faced by her young cousin, Grace wanted to find ways to improve the lives of disabled children and their families. She has created a new product to help transfer children comfortably whether that’s from bed to a desk chair or from a wheelchair to a rollercoaster. Providing a more affordable and inclusive solution, the aid also allows young children to be comfortably carried and enables them to sit at a restaurant table.

UK Young Technologist of the Year 2025

The UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens, has been named as Muhammad Shah, a year 13 student from Queen Elizabeth’s School Barnet in London, for their project ‘Icarus’. Inspired by his love of the outdoors and trekking, Muhammad created an alternative telecommunications system for low-cost and effective emergency communications in remote areas.

Mark Wood, Social Sustainability Lead at Siemens GB&I, commented, “Congratulations to The Big Bang UK Young Technologist of the Year, supported by Siemens! This year the competition was intense, but Muhammad stood out with his decentralised communication system which avoids reliance on cellular or satellite networks, and has great opportunities for search and rescue, leisure and other business uses. Muhammad demonstrated independent learning and great communication and presentation skills and is a worthy winner of the prize!

“The Big Bang Competition is a great opportunity to demonstrate ingenuity and creativity within technology and how technology is essential across business and our lives, including to support digitalisation and sustainability.”

Muhammad, who was unable to attend the awards ceremony due to A level exams, is due to be presented the award later this month at his school’s design showcase.

Dr Hilary Leevers, EngineeringUK Chief Executive, said “Huge congratulations to all our winners, who have shown impressive creativity, knowledge and drive as they have worked on their projects. I hope they, and all the runners-up, are proud of their achievement. There are so many opportunities for them to continue with STEM in education and training and then in the workplace. I’m sure they have a bright future ahead.”

UK Young Scientist of the Year 2025 and other winners

Alice Morrish, a year 10 student from Invicta Grammar School in Kent, was crowned UK Young Scientist of the Year for their project ‘Quantum Karate’. Other winning projects across the competition included an AI-based programme for cancer diagnosis, a menopause cooling stick and a facemask that converts pollutants.

To find out more and discover all the winners of The Big Bang Competition 2025 visit: www.thebigbang.org.uk/competition-winners

To find out more about The Big Bang Fair, which is running at Birmingham’s NEC from 17 June to 19 June 2025, visit: www.thebigbang.org.uk/the-big-bang-fair/

New workforce data released today by EngineeringUK reveals there are 6.4m people employed in engineering and technology roles in the UK.

Key workforce data:

• There are approximately 6.4m people working in engineering and technology occupations in the UK – around a fifth of the workforce (19.3%)
• Women remain significantly underrepresented in engineering and technology. Only 16.9% of the workforce are women, compared to 56% of other occupations
• UK minority ethnic groups are also underrepresented, making up 14% of the workforce, compared to 18% of other occupations
• Disabled people make up 14% of the engineering and technology workforce, lower than the 19% across all other occupations

EngineeringUK Head of Research, Becca Gooch said, “The latest data shows that there is still more to be done before we have the diverse workforce we need for UK engineering and technology to thrive. Women remain the most underrepresented group. Back in 2010, women made up around 10% of the workforce, so 16.9% is certainly an increase, but over 15 years, this is slow progress for a sector growing faster than any other between now and 2030.

“Our research shows introducing young people to what a career in engineering and technology could mean for them ignites a passion for STEM among young people from all backgrounds. STEM outreach programmes like The Big Bang, Energy Quest and Climate School Programme help bring to life real-world engineering and tech careers for young people. But we’d like the sector, which has a skills and labour shortage, to do much, much more to recruit and retain talented women.”

EngineeringUK has partnered with the Royal Academy of Engineering, Women’s Engineering Society (WES), BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, and Women into Science and Engineering (WISE) to address the underrepresentation of women. Together we will drive a collective mission to increase the number of girls in education pathways to engineering and technology at 18, focusing on key areas influencing girls and young women’s engineering and technology career choices. Read more about this work online at www.engineeringuk.com/genderpathways.

The latest briefing with the updated engineering and technology workforce data and analysis is available on the EngineeringUK website at www.engineeringuk.com/workforce.

This Volunteers’ Week (2-8 June 2025), the Engineering Council celebrates the dedicated individuals whose time, expertise and passion help uphold the standards that maintain the trust and respect of the engineering profession.

A national campaign that takes place every June, Volunteers’ Week celebrates and thanks volunteers for the important work they do. It is an opportunity for organisations and communities to show their appreciation for both current and past volunteers.

The contributions of our volunteers help uphold the Standards that define the engineering profession. From our Board of Trustees, who guide the strategic direction of our organisation, to those who contribute their expertise through panels, committees, and working groups, our volunteers are at the heart of everything we do at the Engineering Council. They help develop and maintain the Standards and Guidance that underpin professional registration, support the quality assurance of our licensed professional institutions, and provide essential insight from across industry, academia, and beyond.

Engineering Council CEO, Paul Bailey says “With a regulatory regime based on peer review, the expertise and commitment of our volunteers are vital to the work of the Engineering Council. We remain sincerely grateful for all of our volunteers’ time and dedication, without which we would not be able to support and develop the high standards that give the engineering profession its credibility and public trust”.

As we thank all our volunteers for their ongoing support, we also encourage others to get involved. Volunteering is a chance to give back, grow professionally, and help shape the future of engineering.

For more information on volunteering with us, email governance@engc.org.uk.

The official launch of a new Standard for building safety has been held recently at the House of Lords at an event hosted by his Lordship the Earl of Lindsay. IED Trustees, Simon Vaitkevicius and Neil Phelps, attended the launch in their roles as Group B representatives on the EC Board.

The new UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment contextualised for Higher-Risk Buildings (UK-SPEC HRB) has been developed by the Engineering Council in response to recommendations made in Dame Judith Hackitt’s independent review of building regulations and fire safety, ‘Building a Safer Future’, which was commissioned by the UK Government in the aftermath of the tragic Grenfell Tower Fire in 2017.

UK-SPEC HRB was developed, in collaboration with professional engineering institutions and expert volunteers, to assess the competence and commitment of individual engineers and technicians working on higher-risk buildings in the UK. Based on the UK Standard for Professional Engineering Competence and Commitment (UK-SPEC) the new Standard is tailored for engineers and technicians working in the built environment, particularly on the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of higher-risk buildings.

It incorporates the criteria from BS 8670 and sets out a sector-specific competence framework consisting of a core document and Discipline Annexes. Demonstrating competence could involve registration against the core framework only, or a combination of the Discipline Annexes: Fire Engineering, Structural Engineering, Building Services Engineering and Facade Engineering.

As the keynote speaker, Dame Judith highlighted why it is important to have assured competence of those working on higher-risk buildings and that this must be centred on professionalism: “people who will uphold high standards of professional conduct themselves and call out those who undermine that in any way”. Dame Judith also emphasised that this launch is very much the end of the beginning of the process. The real work now is for engineering institutions to promote the new Standard with their members and strongly encourage people to go through the process. She stressed that wider industry must be informed about the new Standard and the benefits of being able to prove that buildings have been designed and constructed by demonstrably competent people.

A welcome and overview of the importance of regulation was given by Lord Lindsay, Chair of the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS), followed by an address by Prof John Chudley, Chair of the Engineering Council in which he described UK-SPEC HRB as a framework that reinforces professional accountability with public safety at its core. A speech was also delivered by Sandra Ashcroft on behalf of the Building Safety Regulator, who welcomed the new Standards as an invaluable tool for identifying and engaging truly competent professionals who can meet the stringent safety requirements of HRBs.

Trustees and staff from the Engineering Council were pleased to join with representatives from the professional engineering community to celebrate this milestone in working towards improved public safety.

Engineering Council CEO, Paul Bailey, said: “We are very proud to be launching this new Standard today which presents a significant milestone in our continuing work with the professional engineering community to ensure public safety in the built environment. We hope the tragedy of the Grenfell Tower fire and the sad loss of 72 lives will never be seen again. UK-SPEC HRB will provide a means for those engineers and technicians working in the built environment, particularly on the design, construction, maintenance, and operation of higher-risk buildings, to become professionally registered. This is the first step however and it is our hope that UK-SPEC HRB is embraced and championed by the sector and the wider engineering profession, and that the Standard, and the Register of those individuals assessed against it, will support the continuing improvement of public safety across the sector”.

CEO of the Chartered Association of Building Engineers (CABE), Richard Harral, said: “The launch of this new registration scheme for engineers working on HRBs represents a step change through career competence management. By providing a tailored approach to assessing competence for all major roles within design and project teams, from technician to Chartered Engineer, the HRB Register will incentivise investment in the lifelong learning necessary to ensure engineers are competent and that buildings remain safe throughout their life.”

The Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) CEO, Steve Hamm, said: “The IFE is proud to support the launch of the Fire Discipline Annex to the UK-SPEC HRB. This marks a significant milestone in maintaining the highest standards of professional competence within the built environment, reflecting the growing complexity and scrutiny associated with higher-risk buildings. Fire engineering plays a crucial role across all sectors, and this annex offers a clear framework for practitioners to demonstrate their capability in line with the Building Safety Act. As the professional engineering institution licensed to assess against this Standard, we remain committed to upholding public safety and promoting excellence across the profession, working alongside the Engineering Council and other institutions to contribute to safer, better-managed buildings.”

Ruth Carter, CEO of the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE), commented: “CIBSE fully supports the launch of the UK-SPEC HRB as a vital step in strengthening competence across higher-risk buildings. This Standard sets out clear, essential safety criteria – covering fire, structural integrity and public health – helping to ensure engineers are equipped to meet the highest professional standards. We look forward to working with the Engineering Council and fellow institutions to raise awareness and drive uptake of HRB registration across the sector.”

Séan Harris, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Deputy Director General and Director of Membership, said: “The Grenfell Tower tragedy reinforced the infrastructure sector’s role in understanding and managing safety risks. Earlier this year, the Institution of Civil Engineer and the Institution of Structural Engineers launched the registration process for the Higher-Risk Buildings Register, which is owned by the Engineering Council as part of the new UK-SPEC HRB. The ICE is proud to be working with partners like IStructE and the Engineering Council to manage this essential register, which will increase transparency of the design and maintenance of higher-risk buildings. This is positive progress, but there’s no room for complacency. As an institution we are committed to delivering lifelong learning and ensuring there are competent professionals to deliver the work society needs.”

Yasmin Becker, CEO of the Institution of Structural Engineers (IStructE) said: “Professional competence and high standards are essential for structural safety, and therefore the UK-SPEC HRB is an important Standard which we wholeheartedly support. It clarifies the competences and the commitments of engineering professionals working on higher-risk buildings (HRBs). We are pleased to have worked with the Engineering Council and Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in the development of this Standard and a new competency Register for professionally qualified structural and civil engineers who wish to demonstrate their competence in working on HRBs. We look forward to working with the Engineering Council and ICE to develop the Register and support clients and the wider public to identify competent professionals in this critical specialism.”

With the Government’s commitment to building 1.5 million homes over this Parliament which are of high quality, and safe now and in the future, we believe our HRB Register and UK-SPEC HRB is a key example of how this ambition can be achieved through a pipeline of suitably qualified professionals for the housing and construction market with the right skills. We welcome the professional engineers who have already achieved registration, and we are committed to building on this momentum.

Please click here to view or download the UK-SPEC HRB.

The QEPrize seeks nominations from the public that celebrate a wide variety of engineering innovations across all sectors of the profession, and a breadth of nominators from all corners of the globe.

The £500,000 prize is the world’s most prestigious engineering accolade, awarded to up to 10 engineers responsible for a bold, groundbreaking engineering innovation of global benefit to humanity.

Since 2013 we have honoured 33 eminent engineers whose innovations have affected billions of lives. Again, this year, we are seeking a diverse range of nominations that truly epitomise excellence in engineering.

The QEPrize is an international award and accepts nominations from anywhere in the world. The only limitations are that self-nomination and posthumous nomination are not allowed.

The nominations portal for the 2026 QEPrize are now open, and will close on 27 June. Please click here to access the portal.

Nominations Checklist

• Does the innovation have global impact?
• Can you identify up to 10 engineers responsible?
• Do you have enough information to write a case for nomination?
• Are you able to identify at least 3 people who are familiar enough with the innovation to act as referees?

Please click here to view an example nomination.

The 2025 Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards (WE50) celebrate the women engineers who are working together to improve lives through Engineering.

Engineering thrives on collaboration, innovation, and the power of diverse minds working together. The theme for the Top 50 Women in Engineering Awards 2025, Together We Engineer, celebrates the collective strength of engineers who unite across disciplines, challenge conventional boundaries, and drive progress through teamwork.

Whether enhancing projects through group efforts, integrating unique perspectives, or fostering connections that push engineering forward, this year’s awards recognise those who exemplify the spirit of collaboration in engineering.

Nominations close on the 25 March 2025 and the winners will be announced on International Women In Engineering Day on the 23 June 2025.

Further information can be found here

Essential Criteria – all nominees must satisfy these:

• A woman, aged 18 or older

• Based in the UK – nominees do not have to be UK citizens

• Not a previous WE50 winner

• Can demonstrate the creation or improvement of a product or process

Desirable Criteria:

• Acting as an advocate for other women in STEM

• Working or studying in engineering industries and allied sectors, engineering education, or engineering research

• Achieving beyond what would normally be expected for career stage – nominations welcome at all career stages

Entries that focus solely on engineering or solely on supporting women will not do as well as those that demonstrate both. We regret that we cannot include nominations for anyone based outside of the UK, even if they are UK citizens, with the exception of women serving the armed forces.

Nominate here!

Research by EngineeringUK and The Royal Society, published during National Careers Week (3 to 8 March), has found young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) have a higher interest in technology careers than non-SEND pupils. 

The new additional analysis comes from the Science Education Tracker, a survey of 7,200 young people in years 7 to 13 of their experiences and attitudes towards STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) education and careers.  

The data highlights employment aspirations amongst students in state schools in England and found almost half (47%) of both SEND and non-SEND students are interested in a future career in engineering. 

But interestingly, more SEND students favoured a technology and computing career (43%) in contrast to non-SEND students (37%). 

Between now and 2030 engineering and technology jobs are expected to grow faster than other occupations.  Engineering jobs are expected to grow by a further 2.8% adding 173,000 net new jobs. EngineeringUK would like to see more opportunities open up for disabled young people, who are currently underrepresented, making up 14% of the engineering and technology workforce compared to 18% in other occupations.  

Becca Gooch, Head of Research at EngineeringUK, said, “The data throws up some positive findings and it’s great to see both SEND and non-SEND students as equally interested in a potential future engineering career.  It’s also fantastic to see so many SEND students with careers interest in tech where we need a vast talent pool. We must ensure our future engineering and technology workforce are not only well prepared for future roles but are made aware of opportunities and entry routes in to training and employment. 

“Engineering is such a broad sector offering so many diverse roles and opportunities for young people in the UK.”  

The data also showed when it came to maths careers, there was little difference between the 2 cohorts, with SEND students (35%) and non-SEND students (37%), but fewer SEND students favoured a future science career (39%) than non-SEND (48%). 

SEND students were less likely than non-SEND students to engage in science or STEM online via Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and online news or receive advice and guidance about careers from a range of different sources and undertake STEM work experience.  

The 2023 Science Education Tracker published in 2024, followed previous surveys in 2016 and 2019. The 2023 survey included questions, for the first time, specifically about engineering. EngineeringUK’s Head of Research, Becca Gooch, and David Montagu, Senior Policy Advisor from The Royal Society’s Education team will be presenting the CRESTEM keynote lecture ‘The Science Education Tracker: a tool for capturing young people’s perception at King’s College today (4 March). 

All SEND schools are included in EngineeringUK’s list of priority schools it engages with through its STEM programmes and resources like Neon to help drive change and improve wider diversity amongst underrepresented groups in the engineering and technology industry.  

Read the report

The Engineering Council and EngineeringUK are proud to support Chartered Week 2025, which takes place from 24 to 28 February 2025. This new national awareness week is dedicated to celebrating the positive contributions of Chartered practice, acknowledging the people, organisations and standards that are raising standards of competence and ethics across the engineering profession.

Chartered Week aims to:

• recognise the role of Chartered professionals in fostering public trust

• highlight the value of Chartered status in achieving excellence

• inspire others to pursue professional registration

Chartered status is a benchmark of excellence, ethics, and positive impact, recognising the achievements of professionals and organisations that inspire public trust. It builds confidence in engineering by assuring that engineers and technicians meet recognised standards of competence and commitment.

With this year’s theme of ‘Celebrating Trusted Professionals’, the week will focus on celebrating and promoting the importance of professional registration and its impact on society today, whether as a Chartered Engineer (CEng), Incorporated Engineer (IEng), or Engineering Technician (EngTech).

Developed by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, Chartered Week is an opportunity for the Chartered community (Chartered professionals, employers, awarding bodies and people aspiring to be Chartered) to collaborate across sectors, share experiences and best practices, and explore common challenges and goals.

Celebrating Chartered status showcases the profession and the value of standards and integrity. It highlights the importance engineering puts on knowledge and skills and professional conduct as well as consideration of the environment and public safety. These cornerstones of professional practice help build trust and inspire future generations.

Special events held throughout the week will highlight our talented community and the registration pathways available to you.

Chartered professionals can explore the toolkit for resources and ideas to celebrate #CharteredWeek on social media. Use the hashtags, digital badges, and content to share your journey to professional registration and inspire others to follow your professional path.

The Engineering Council and EngineeringUK invite everyone to connect with the broader professional engineering community, join the conversation and support this inaugural event.

If you’re not yet professionally registered, Chartered Week is the perfect time to explore the registration pathways open to you.

Further information and resources are available on the Chartered Week website.

The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair is taking place on Tuesday 17 to Thursday 19 June 2025 at the NEC in Birmingham

Benefits of volunteering with the Big Bang Programme

Collaboration

• Raise the profile of your organisation, industry, and sector
• Join a collective effort to inspire and inform thousands of young people about STEM careers
• Challenge stereotypes about STEM careers
• Engage, network, and collaborate with peers in the industry and pan sector

Experience

• A fun and rewarding opportunity to make a difference in young people’s lives
• Personal development opportunity
• As a role model, you’ll actively inspire and inform young people about the breadth of future career options available to them
• CPD – Volunteering at the Big Bang Fair can be classified as evidence of CPD, much in the same way that volunteers contribute to the profession through sitting on committees and panels.

Big Bang Fair

This is the UK’s biggest free STEM Fair, taking place annually at the NEC in Birmingham. We welcome c20,000 young people aged 10-13 and c3,000 of their teachers every year. More than 50 exhibitors across all parts of the STEM industry showcase their organisation to young people through interactive stands which help young people to better understand what a career in STEM looks like.  

Big Bang Competition

This is the UK’s largest and most established STEM Competition, with categories across Science, Technology and Engineering. Hundreds of young people enter every year (742 in 23/24), submitting projects which they have worked on as an individual or group. The awards ceremony for finalists is held at the Big Bang Fair. 

Register via the link below to volunteer at the Big Bang Fair and Big Bang Competition: Big Bang Fair 2025 – Engineering UK  

Big Bang at School

This programme brings the magic of the Big Bang Fair into the school environment. This is particularly impactful for schools who cannot attend the Fair, or for whom an in-school model works better for their engagement.  If you are interested in engaging with the Big Bang at School Programme, please drop a line to nadine@ied.org.uk and we’ll pass your details on to Engineering UK so that they can link you to a school.

You can find all Engineering UK volunteering opportunities here:  Volunteering with EngineeringUK.

The Engineering Council has just released its updated Guide to Professional Registration for 2024-2025, offering the latest guidance on how to achieve professional registration as an engineer or technician.

The comprehensive resource offers a clear guide for navigating the professional registration process including valuable insights for those aiming to attain this internationally recognised standard of professional competence and dedication.

Tailored to a diverse audience – including school leavers, careers advisors, STEM ambassadors, employers and HR professionals – the guide is an essential resource for anyone looking to develop engineering talent.

Having the necessary knowledge and skills is essential for working as an engineer or technician. Professional registration offers a structured framework to support career development, training, and continual improvement. This guide outlines the different pathways to achieving professional registration, whether through recognised qualifications, such as approved or accredited degrees, apprenticeships, work-based training or individual assessments.

The first step in the professional registration process is to join a Professional Engineering Institution (PEI) licensed by the Engineering Council or a Professional Affiliate (PA) with a registration agreement.

The revised publication covers:

• How the various engineering organisations work together
• What professional registration entails, including the different registration titles
• The benefits of professional registration for individuals, employers and society
• How to become professionally registered
• Detailed profiles of licensed professional engineering institutions and affiliates, outlining their specialisms, missions and the professional titles they offer
• Information on the Licensees now authorised to award professional Higher-Risk Building (HRB) registration – a new addition for this year

To download your free copy, visit the Engineering Council website.