An organisation that I have just joined as part of the company I work for is called the Institute of Engineering and Technology. Today they are holding a series of events around the UK. Entitled “Engineering Open House Day” the events aim to help children (8 – 16 years-old) and their parents understand what it’s like to work as an engineer. It gives them special, behind-the-scenes access to a wide variety of organisations to demonstrate how creative and innovative a career in engineering could be. There is more information regarding these events here on the IET website. Our company has just signed up as an Enterprise Partner with the IET and one of our locations for working on engineering projects is Thorpe Park which is currently the closest venue to Sussex that is participating in the IET programme. Perhaps next year if this event is repeated, we will be able to persuade a local University to open up their premises and join in the fun? There is plenty of evidence of a shortage of engineers in the UK so any events like this deserve a great deal of promotion.