Staffordshire students are to benefit from a £3.34 million commitment by a global energy company to inspire the next generation of engineers and energy leaders.
GE Vernova’s charitable arm has announced a new flagship initiative to provide hands-on engineering experience for students, building on its long-standing presence in Stafford where it operates three electrification manufacturing sites and is continuing a major expansion of its facilities.
Over the next three years, the GE Vernova Foundation’s Engineers of Change programme aims to reach more than 6,000 students in Staffordshire and in Greenville, South Carolina – creating stronger pathways into engineering education, training, and careers.
Students who complete the program will be awarded a partial scholarship to support further engineering education and training.
Kristin Carvell, President of the GE Vernova Foundation and Chief Communications Officer of GE Vernova, said: “Meeting the world’s growing energy needs will require not only breakthrough technology, but people – bold thinkers, problem solvers, and next generation leaders ready to shape the future.
“Through Engineers of Change, we are helping young people see engineering not just as a career path, but as a mission with real-world impact. By bringing engineering to life in engaging, community-connected ways, we hope to ignite curiosity today and help build the workforce of tomorrow.”
Delivery in Stafford will be led by The Inspirational Learning Group, based in the county town.
Students aged 13 and 14 will be engaged through Engineering Spark, a series of hands-on learning sessions led by GE Vernova engineers and volunteers.
Meanwhile Engineering Catalyst is an immersive, two-year programme for students aged 15 to 18 featuring real-world design challenges, college and career readiness workshops, and engagement with GE Vernova engineers.
Paul Dyer, General Manager of The Inspirational Learning Group, said: “We are extremely proud to be implementing the Engineers of Change programme in Staffordshire, giving young people the opportunity to develop the skills, confidence and curiosity needed to shape the future.
“With the support of GE Vernova, this initiative will inspire and empower the next generation of engineers and innovators.”
The investment comes as GE Vernova is expanding its local operations to meet rising demand for high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems.
Is this the time to invest in HEP. Not huge plants involving massive dams but a UK network of micro generators.
Climate change has brought significant additional rainfall to the UK. This means when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isnt blowing the rivers are still flowing.
The UK was powered by water in Victorian times. There are hundreds of weirs still in place on hundreds of rivers big and small. Why can’t we reharness this potential by inserting a Archimedes at each of these wiers to generate electricity locally and tied into the National grid. This would be environmentally sustainable and there is no waste to be expensively disposed of as in the nuclear option. I would suspect significantly cheaper too.
Is this a project to pursue?
There are just a handful of live examples in the UK already.
How many river weirs are there? What is the potential generation.?
Hi Phil.
I get your point but wonder if you are missing the intention here? The investment is in people, specifically young people in Staffordshire to be able to pursue an engineering career and make a difference to the world of tomorrow. As an engineer at GE Vernova in staffordshire myself, we are involved in transformers, control systems and switchgear, as well as the pioneering generation of electrical valves. We connect wind farms and other generation sources to the grid, realizing the electrical potential of renewable sources. We also pioneer many other technical solutions, positively reducing the carbon impact of the production phase, and also putting greener solutions onto the network (see GE g3 gas solution for example). Regardless of the generating mechanism, we still have to transport the electricity, transform the electricity and distribute the electricity, all whilst ensuring he integrity of the grid so that we can reliably turn he lights on at home. This program is a commitment to young people in STEM and a commitment to the future of Staffordshire and the world. This is the real message.