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Engineering Education Scheme and NG Bailey win Yorkshire Forward ‘Creating Better Futures’ Award
The prestigious awards highlight the successful partnerships between private sector and voluntary, community and faith organisations. They aim to demonstrate true partnership working and encourage the sharing and development of skills, knowledge and best practice within the community for its economic development. Each of the winning charities received a prize of £10,000 to invest in their cause.
NG Bailey, a large mechanical and electrical design company, entered their participation with 5 Engineering Education Scheme (EES) teams, working with schools in the West Yorkshire area.
Four times Olympic gold medallist Sir Matthew Pinsent presented the awards and spoke of his experience of how strong partnerships and a commitment to succeed, even in the face of adversity, is the key to success – be it Olympic or everyday.
He explained how, in the run up to the Athens Olympics in 2004 he and the Olympic rowing team were faced with a series of challenges and changes, but that as a team, they recognised that their biggest trap would have been to sit back and say “this is new, I don’t like it…that would have led to failure.”
Congratulating all the awards finalists and winners, Matthew commented; “In difficult times it has never been more important for people to feel their efforts are being recognised. This is not a time to just think about surviving, it is a time to commit everything you have to success and work as a team to achieve your goal. “These companies and organisations have all done that, and it is great to see.”
Terry Hodgkinson, Chair of Yorkshire Forward presented the awards with Matthew and told those present: “The work you all do, day in and day out is amazing. It changes the lives of people less fortunate, opens doors and it gives everyone the chance they deserve. The business benefits of a good CSR policy shouldn’t be underplayed or considered selfish they should be championed…and loudly! “The locality we do business in is important but the growth of our people is too. They are our greatest assets and if they are growing by learning new skills for work and for life - Your organisations will grow too.”
As part of the sponsorship of EES, NG Bailey linked with 15 students across Yorkshire. The engineers set projects for each school, which centred around sustainable solutions to real-life engineering questions, allowing them to experience the industry first-hand. This involvement and N G Bailey’s corporate education strategy made them an ideal partner to work with the EDT on judging the EES. This commitment developed in 2008 when N G Bailey became sponsors of the scheme. As part of this sponsorship, N G Bailey linked with students across the region and provided funds and three engineers to work with three schools: Tapton School in Sheffield, Leeds Grammar School, and Hanson School in Bradford.
The problems the engineers set the students enabled them to develop solutions to real-life engineering problems, allowing them to experience the industry first-hand. The company benefited from encouraging more students to consider engineering, science and technology as career options for the future.
NG Bailey has seen multiple benefits from their involvement with EDT, from cost effective project solutions to the opportunity for high quality professional development of the organisation’s engineers and scientists. The students have come up with low cost, innovative solutions that will help NG Bailey in its own business development though improving its processes and designs.
Peter Tattersall, Regional Coordinator of the Engineering Education Scheme comments; “To receive recognition for partnership and commitment from the Yorkshire Forward CBF Award is such a privilege and so encouraging both personally and for the Engineering Education Scheme partnership with N G Bailey, particularly in the current climate. We are all really grateful.” For information about EDT in the North please contact Diane Mee on 07966 101265 or d.mee@yini.org.uk