National Careers Week: Inspiring the next generation of civil engineers

This National Careers Week, the theme ‘Own Your Future’ is all about giving young people the confidence and insight to explore where their interests could take them. 

We’re proud to partner with University Technical Colleges and local schools to help bring civil engineering to life. Across our regions, colleagues have led hands-on STEM sessions, mentored students and set design challenges based on real engineering problems, from safer walking and cycling routes to new river crossings and bridge designs. 

Turning classroom learning into real-world challenges

One of the most effective ways to inspire future engineers is to give them a problem that feels real. 

In our South region, Jon Royds and the team run term-long infrastructure design exercises with UTC Portsmouth and UTC Reading. Students spend a couple of hours each week developing ideas, with Waterman Aspen colleagues visiting every few weeks to share expertise in drainage and infrastructure, highways, project management and what life is like as a degree apprentice. 

The challenges are rooted in local places students recognise: 

• Reading: Students explore options for a new crossing over the Thames. They consider what different users might need, including buses, pedestrians, cyclists and cars. 
• Portsmouth: Students tackle a real access issue by improving walking and cycling connections through a 350-metre causeway route. 

At the end, students present their designs back to our team, often with ideas that surprise even experienced engineers.  

Confidence, curiosity and future careers

The biggest impact of these sessions isn’t just the final presentation. It’s what happens in the weeks in between: the questions, the confidence and the relationship-building that helps students feel comfortable reaching out. 

As Jon explains, “When teams return more than once, students start asking the bigger questions and trust grows over time.” 

Esther Lawton, who has also been supporting Jon and colleagues with the sessions. She mentions that the sessions are designed to be accessible and varied, pairing an introduction to the business, our mission, values and community work with hands-on problem-solving. 

Supporting routes into the profession

For Waterman Aspen, these UTC partnerships aren’t a one-off visit. They’re part of building a stronger future workforce for our industry. 

Through the South region programme, two students from UTC Portsmouth, Rebecca Edwards and Aleksander Sokov, joined Waterman Aspen and began their degrees in September 2023 after their enthusiasm was spotted during STEM design activities. 

As Jon puts it, “It’s a nice story… local students, local university and a local client placement where they can learn on real projects.” 

Alongside sponsoring their degrees, Waterman Aspen is supporting their route to professional qualifications, with an experienced mentor guiding them through the years leading up to their End Point Assessment.

Making STEM approachable (and fun)

What stands out in these sessions is how quickly students engage when they’re given space to be creative. 

Esther recalls a bridge design session where a student proudly proposed a bridge “made purely out of gold” and the conversation naturally moved into real-life considerations like budget, materials and maintenance.    

Esther and colleagues have delivered sessions on aviation, as well as design projects that stretch beyond engineering into how communities work, including a town-planning-style activity in which students created models with green space and key facilities. 

Sometimes, the feedback says it all: Esther describes how students enjoyed the projects, including one memorable moment when a student ran out to say it was the best project they’d taken part in at the school. 

Addressing the skills gap

We need to help young people see what’s possible, especially in civil engineering and how the work shapes everyday life. 

Jon puts it simply: “There aren’t enough engineers to go around.” This is one practical way for experienced professionals to pass on knowledge and bring others into the industry. 

Looking ahead

In other regions, teams are exploring different ways to get involved, from mock interview days and outreach in more local schools where students may not yet be aware of the range of careers in engineering. 

Because with each session, students ask bigger questions and start to believe: I can do that. 

Keep an eye on our news and social channels for more updates from our teams working with UTCs and schools across the UK.