Apprentices at the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) welcomed a VIP guest to the third annual Skills Academy Design Challenge. Colin Utting, Chief Engineer for Future Technology with BAE Systems, joined apprentices and members of AWE’s executive team for an inspiring event fusing innovative design and amazing technology.
Teams of apprentices from AWE’s award-winning Skills Academy competed to come up with novel – but practical – solutions to a variety of technical challenges and explain how they would implement and manage their ideas. The teams presented their ideas to a judging panel drawn from AWE’s executive team and senior technology experts.
The Design Challenge is organised by a team of graduates working in various areas across the business. Lead organiser, Preeya, said: “The apprentices came up with some pretty impressive solutions and it was difficult to decide on the winners. The Design Challenge aims to replicate the type of technical questions they’ll be working on when they have completed their apprenticeships and is an enjoyable way of enhancing problem-solving, team-working and design skills.
“The apprentices also had a chance to meet specialists from a variety of areas in AWE, to make new professional contacts, see how technology is integrated into the business and get hands-on with some of the equipment. We were delighted that Colin Utting was able to attend, he was very impressed with the apprentices’ work and we hope to welcome him back soon to hear about his work at BAE Systems.’”