The Engineering Futures Podcast

Meet Rosa Wells, the FE Principal and Dean for Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths at University College Birmingham. In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Rosa shared her story of entering the engineering sector, including the steps that led to her current role in education and her advice for other engineers who would like to get involved with teaching the next generation.  She also explained the importance of early exposure to engineering as a career to draw more young people into the industry at the further education stage.  Listen now to find out more about engineering in further education.   The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet Craig Hanlon-Smith, the Vice Principal at Morley College, London. He came on the podcast to discuss the role of education in creating the workforce of tomorrow.   In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Craig also talked about his experience of moving from theatre to teaching, the role of industry knowledge in further education and the importance of trauma-informed support for students with challenging behaviour.  Tune in to learn more about preparing the talent of the future.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here.

Meet Kate Ambrosi, the Deputy CEO and Director of Education at The Baker Dearing Educational Trust. She joined us to talk about the benefits of offering alternative educational pathways at UTCs.  In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Kate also discussed the best ways for companies and other employers to prepare the employees of tomorrow for real-world work by embracing a practical, skills-based education system.  Listen in to find out how you could help shape the future of the workforce.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet Chris Hatherall, the Principal of Warrington University Technical College. He spoke to us about the importance of technical colleges in developing the career-creating skills that are essential in the engineering industry.  In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Chris explained how education gives companies the opportunity to ‘try before they buy’ upcoming talent, and how they can support the industry by accepting T Level placements.  Listen in to learn more about educating the next generation of engineers.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet Gabriela Hammond, the Head of HR Consultancy at Forbes Solicitors.  She joined us to talk about the relationship between positive HR practices and employee retention rates.  In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Gabriela helped us dive into the role of HR within a business, including what good HR looks like, as well as its impact on recruitment and wider people topics.  Listen in to learn more about HR in engineering.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet Stephanie Crane, the Delivery Lead of T-Level Programmes at the Association of Colleges. She came to talk to us about the different pathways into the engineering industry for young people. In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Steph also discussed how companies can get involved in education, including speaking events and offering placement opportunities, and the benefits of training young people as a community.  Listen in to find out more about alternative education pathways in engineering.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet John Kendal, the Assistant Principal at Reaseheath College. He joined us to talk about the importance of practical education for young people, particularly when it comes to learning a vocation or trade.  In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, John also shared his insights on the pathways available to young people, some of his proudest moments as an educator, and his students’ success stories.  Tune in to discover more about education and training in engineering.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet Paul Jones, the Chief Executive at Northern Automotive Alliance. He joined us to talk about his experiences as an engineer in the automotive industry.  In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Paul also shared his advice for others in the engineering sector, and suggested some changes that could help close the skills gap that the industry is facing.  Tune in to find out more about growing in an engineering career.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet Murat Islam, Lead Engineer at John Crane Couplings. He joined us to talk about professional development in the engineering field, which he transitioned into after starting his career in manufacturing.  In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Murat shared his experience of the difference between engineering in Turkey and the UK, and his career path through the industry. He also shared his advice for younger engineers looking to advance their careers.  Tune in to find out more about growing in an engineering career. The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here.

Meet Paul Bullock, the Managing Director at 3D 360. Paul’s background is largely in consulting, with 30 years of experience in the engineering field before launching his current company. In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Paul shared the story of how he got into engineering thanks to after-school enrichment clubs, his belief in the importance of education, practical training and effective mentoring, and the challenges facing the engineering industry as they struggle to train more teachers in new wave technologies.  Tune in to learn more about educating the engineering sector.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet Chris Platt, the Industry Manager at City & Guilds. Chris’s background lies in engineering education, having worked at Burnley College for a number of years before transitioning into his current role.  In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Chris shared his perspectives on how employers can help more young people enter engineering, from developing and improving training schemes to increasing their awareness of the challenges facing the next generation of engineers.  Tune in to find out more about bringing young people into engineering.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet Valentine Pietri, the Founder at Grow & Sustain. With a background in mechanical engineering, Valentine worked in manufacturing for 20 years before setting up Grow & Sustain, where she aims to help women in STEM find their voices through effective mentoring. In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Valentine shared her experiences in the industry, her advice for people and companies who want to be more inclusive, and her unusual inspiration for getting into STEM.  Tune in to hear from another inspiring woman in engineering.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here.

Meet Katherine Evans, the Founder and Gender Equity & Culture Consultant at Bold as Brass Consulting Services.  Katherine has been working as a mining geologist since leaving university in 2008, and is now on a mission to improve gender diversity in the engineering space.  In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Katherine explained the importance of equitable PPE in dangerous workplaces like mines, where women’s protection is often treated as a secondary concern.  Tune in to find out what actions companies should be taking to make engineering accessible to everybody.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

Meet Paul Bell, the Programme Leader at the Northwest Aerospace Alliance.  With a rich history in the engineering sector that started at a young age, thanks to a family connection to the industry, Paul has a wealth of insights into what it’s like to work in engineering.  In this episode, hosted by Paul Barker, Paul Bell shared his stories from companies like Rolls Royce, climbing the managerial ladder and how he battles impostor syndrome.  Tune in to learn from a leader in the engineering space.  The Engineering Futures podcast is sponsored by Enter Engineering, a specialised recruiter working in northern England’s bustling engineering space. To find out more about our sponsor, click here. 

The Engineering Futures Podcast brings you into the heart of the engineering sector, by highlighting the stories of the people inside it. Hosted by Paul Barker, an engineer-turned-Founder of Enter Engineering, each episode will highlight one exceptional person from the engineering community in the north of England and abroad. Tune in to hear more about the personal experiences, professional challenges and practical tips that our guests have to offer.