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WMG Professor made Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering

Picture of Professor David GreenwoodWMG at the University of Warwick’s Professor David Greenwood has been elected a Fellow of the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering.

Professor Greenwood is CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Director for Industrial Engagement at WMG.

Professor Greenwood has been elected as part of a group of 73 leading figures in the field of engineering and technology to the fellowship.

The group consists of 60 Fellows, eight International Fellows and five Honorary Fellows, each of whom has made exceptional contributions to their own sector, pioneering new innovations, leading progress in business or academia, providing high level advice to government, or promoting wider understanding of engineering and technology.

The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a special ceremony in London on 28 November, when each Fellow will sign the roll book. In joining the Fellowship, they will lend their unique capabilities to achieving the Academy’s overarching strategic goal to harness the power of engineering to create a sustainable society and an inclusive economy for all.

Professor Greenwood commented: "I am truly honoured to be elected as a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. The UK has tremendous capability in engineering and manufacturing and the work of the Royal Academy is pivotal in helping to achieve its full potential. I look forward to playing my part in that."

Professor Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:

“Engineering is everywhere, but nowhere the same, and our new Fellows represent the great breadth and diversity of engineers who are striving to address some of the world’s most complex challenges – benefiting society and the economy in the process. From next generation power networks and water systems to quantum computing and artificial intelligence, our new Fellows are shaping the future.

“We live in an era of rapid change across our communities, our country, and of course our planet. Today we welcome to our Fellowship an inspiring group of people who are harnessing their creativity, courage and commitment to drive positive change in the world around us and we look forward to their contribution to our work.”

View the full list of 2023 fellows here.

Wed 20 Sep 2023, 09:30 | Tags: HVM Catapult Research Our People

WMG secures funding for two new knowledge transfer partnerships with SME manufacturers pushing the boundaries on process and management innovation

The SME Group at WMG, University of Warwick, has embarked on two major projects with Bellagio Stone and Radius Systems thanks to over £200k inWMG's SME Group's Knowledge Transfer Partnership funding from Innovate UK’s Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) scheme.

A KTP is a three-way collaboration between a company, an academic institution (in this case WMG at the University of Warwick) and a graduate or postgraduate. KTPs are designed to help businesses improve their competitiveness and productivity through shared knowledge, technology, and skills.

Bellagio Stone’s two-year project will create a new cultural management and leadership framework within the business following a recent merger, enabling it to push productivity and prepare for future expansion. Bellagio will transform its operations in the stonemasonry industry, capitalising on a range of long-term growth ambitions.

Radius Systems manufacturers of innovative plastic pipeline solutions will work on a two-year project with WMG to analyse, design and implement a process control system to reduce process variation in the continuous manufacture of water, gas and hydrogen infrastructure pipes.

Simon Broome, Innovation Manager at WMG who works with SMEs to secure KTP funding said: “We are delighted to announce these major new KTP projects. Both Bellagio Stone and Radius Systems have showed a fantastic appetite to grow their businesses and engage with the University to achieve their goals. We are excited about the potential ahead and are now in the process of recruiting the KTP Associates who will deliver the projects in the businesses.”

Mike Boyden, Operations Director at Bellagio Stone Ltd said: “We are really excited to have been awarded the funding to begin the KTP project in conjunction with WMG. We have worked on a number of really successful projects with WMG in the past and feel the KTP has great potential to help develop our business further. Having recently completed a business merger, this targeted approach of supporting specific hurdles we are facing, will help unite both businesses and really drive improvements in productivity, purchasing power and overall efficiencies. We are really grateful to all the team involved with supporting the application and look forward to getting started.”

Allen Clarke Technical Director at Radius Systems Ltd said: “We are delighted to be awarded the funding through Innovate UK and the opportunity to further work with WMG. We have many ideas and initiative to further enhance our manufacturing processes and drive or business to the next level. The scheme will give us great insight into our chosen technical subjects whilst enhancing our World class manufacturing and Industry 4.0 philosophy. Thank you to all involved with this venture and looking forward to getting started in Autumn 2023.”

Find out more about WMG’s SME programmes here: WMG SME Group | How can we help you? (warwick.ac.uk)

Tue 22 Aug 2023, 10:19 | Tags: SME HVM Catapult Partnerships

WMG supports holiday workshops

WMG at the University of Warwick’s Outreach Team was pleased to take part in the Royal Institution’s (Ri) holiday workshops.

The Outreach Team at the Ri summer workshopsProfessor Margaret Low and Dr Phil Jemmett both led sessions at the holiday workshops designed to bring all areas of science - including mathematics, computing and engineering - to life for 9 to 14 year olds.

Professor Margaret Low’s session was a fun and creative introduction to programming using TurtleStitch. TurtleStitch is free, easy to use, and generates patterns that can be stitched by embroidery machines, enabling the creation of physical things from code.

At Dr Phil Jemmett’s session he asked, ‘Where is engineering?’ Dr Jemmett explained how every product, tool, device and service relies on engineers designing, refining and creating solutions to problems. Students used programmable electronics and sensors, and had the opportunity to make a product for the future.

Dr Phil Jemmett, Widening Participation Co-ordinator at WMG, University of Warwick, said: “The Royal Institution has centuries of tradition in educatingThe 'Where is engineering?' workshop people about science in a fun and engaging way. We are so proud to have supported the holiday workshop programme for another year, and continue to work with one of the most famous scientific bodies in the world. What better place to showcase the engineering and innovation that WMG is part of in building the future? We aimed to show people how simple it can be to start to create their own projects, whether making a smart city for the future, or controlling an embroidery machine in Margaret’s workshop. And it really showed in the engagement of the students in the activities – the things they were able to build in one day were mind-blowing.”

Professor Margaret Low, Director of Outreach and Widening Participation at WMG, University of Warwick, showed her commitment to making science accessible: “Science, engineering, mathematics, and computer science are not traditionally seen as being fun subjects to dip into. With these workshops we were able to provide an inspiring introduction for young people, and perhaps set them on a path to becoming scientists or engineers in the future. Working in partnership between a university and a public body like the Ri is a good example of how we can create opportunities for young people to discover what they want to do, and be empowered to achieve it.”

Peter Gallivan, Family Programme Manager, at the Royal Institution, explains: “Holiday Workshops at the Royal Institution are one of the main ways we work with young people, welcoming around 2,000 young people across the summer to get hands-on exploring STEM subjects. The sessions run by Margaret and Phil are some of my favourites, as they showcase how creativity and imagination are important skills used by scientists and engineers. It was a delight to see their sessions packed full of excited young scientists happily working together to solve a variety of engineering challenges. How else would you want to spend your summer holidays?!”

Find out more about WMG’s Outreach programmes here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/about/outreach/

Fri 11 Aug 2023, 10:01 | Tags: HVM Catapult STEM Public engagement Outreach

Project workshop addresses cyber-security in connected and autonomous mobility

Picture shows the AirQKD project trial at the University of Warwick campusResearchers from WMG, at the University of Warwick, were pleased to welcome partners and guests to a live trial and project workshop on the AirQKD project.

AirQKD addresses the cyber security of Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAV) and specifically addresses components, manufacturing, software, and testing for last-mile Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) systems between shared parties for 5G and connected cars.

It is an Innovate UK funded collaboration between BT; Lexden Technologies; OLC; Duality, Bristol University; Fraunhofer Centre for Applied Photonics; Strathclyde University; WMG; Bay Photonics; Heriot Watt University; Angoka; ArQit; Nu Quantum; National Physical Laboratory; CSA Catapult and Edinburgh University.

The trial combines BT’s expertise in building quantum-secure networks using QKD – an essentially un-hackable, cutting-edge technique for sharing encryption ‘keys’ between locations using a stream of single photons) with other new techniques for applying quantum security to mobile devices, developed by UK start-ups Nu Quantum, Angoka and Duality.

On the University of Warwick campus, as part of the Midlands Future Mobility testbed, WMG has created a Vehicle to Infrastructure (V2I) testing facility enabling AirQKD partners’ technology in key management, key consumption, and security protocols to be used for secure communications.

The AirQKD system implements Free Space Optics (FSO) cryptographic key generation and standards-compliant key management. WMG is now managingPicture shows AirQKD project trial on the University of Warwick campus the workstream between telecommunications (4G/5G cellular at BT’s Adastral Park site) and V2I communications on the University of Warwick campus. In combination, these technologies will be used to deliver an ultra-secure link between connected 5G towers and mobile devices, as well as to connected cars.

Find out more about CAV research at WMG here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/research/cav/connectivity/

Read more about AirQKD here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/research/transformation/securecybersystems/projects

 


Professor David Greenwood on UK Gigafactory announcement from TATA Sons/JLR

Reactive statement from Professor David Greenwood, CEO of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Director of Industrial Engagement at WMG at the University of Warwick

Picture of Professor David Greenwood“This is fantastic news and secures the future of our UK auto industry which would otherwise have been lost by 2035. Furthermore, this secures the supply chain meaning we’ve kept those jobs for everyone across the country.


“This announcement means that the UK is now above “critical mass” for supply chain companies and therefore sets the UK up to be an attractive place for businesses in the supply chain to invest to supply upstream and downstream materials needed for electric vehicle production. As one of the UK’s biggest academic institutions working in the area of battery and electric vehicle innovation, this is great news for all 250 of our researchers – we will now see the results of our work used in UK based industries and benefiting UK taxpayers rather than being exploited by competitors abroad.
“This is the culmination six years work here at Warwick Manufacturing Group - we helped the UK government set up the Faraday Battery Challenge which was a key part of the then Government’s industrial strategy. That investment has now borne fruit. Clearly, we now need to define our future vision and strategy as the global industrial landscape evolves at breakneck speed.


“This means the Prime Minister has realised he must provide sufficient investment to ensure the country is a competitive runner in the global race to dominate the markets created by the massive green transition needed to avert climate catastrophe.”

Battery recycling
Researchers at the University of Warwick estimate that by 2040 339,000 tonnes of batteries are expected to reach the end of their life in the UK alone.
Prof David Greenwood adds: “While we are busy building all these electric cars, we also need to think about what happens at the end of their useful life. Batteries contain significant quantities of materials which are costly to extract and refine and which could be hazardous to the environment if improperly disposed of. Investment is needed to create suitable recycling facilities in the UK within the next few years, and beyond that further research is needed to allow economic recovery of much greater proportions of the battery material. In doing so we will protect the environment, secure valuable raw materials, and reduce the cost of transport.”

Gigafactory FAQs
What is a gigafactory?
A gigafactory is a large factory that produces large numbers of batteries for electric vehicles. Tesla has pioneered the concept in the US, with six factories so far to produce batteries for their cars.

Why do we need one?

In order to a compete internationally and help preserve the UK automotive industry battery production needs to be scaled up rapidly across both the UK and Europe. This situation is exacerbated by tariffs due to be imposed across the UK and EU unless a certain proportion of a car is produced in one of those jurisdictions.
As an EV battery makes up around half of a vehicle’s weight it is crucial the UK vastly scales up battery production. Gigafactories are the most efficient way to do this.

How are electric car batteries made?
EV batteries come in lots of different shapes and sizes but are all made up of many battery cells put together to form a battery pack.
To make a battery, we take electrochemically active materials, like graphite, nickel manganese, cobalt and lithium, and make powders from them. These powders are mixed with solvents and adhesives, then coated onto metal (aluminium or copper) foils which are then packaged together inside cells.

This is a very precise process – otherwise the quality of the battery is impacted. At WMG, around 20 battery cells per day can be produced. At a gigafactory, production would be closer to 20 cells per second.

How are batteries recycled?
To recycle batteries, fire is used to recover most of the metals. Water can then be used to get further metals that can’t be reached using heat alone. There are still difficulties however in recycling lithium or graphite, which make up a large percentage of the metals in the batteries themselves.

With 11 million tonnes of lithium-ion batteries expected to need recycling by 2030, the need to build domestic capacity to recycle them is greater than ever.

Wed 19 Jul 2023, 11:26 | Tags: HVM Catapult Energy Systems Transport Electrification

£1.5m funding secured to advance the investigation of microstructures in battery materials

Researchers at WMG, University of Warwick’s Forensics & Advanced Characterisation of Batteries Group, have secured £1.5m funding for materials analysis in multiple format batteries.

The funding, from the University of Warwick’s Academic Equipment Fund and the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, will be used to purchase a PlasmaPicture of the PFIB microscope Focused Ion Beam (PFIB) microscope. The microscope is key to the accelerated development of new battery chemistries, providing unique access to the critical interfaces within battery cells that dictate best performance. This will be instrumental in developing new materials for better batteries, regardless of their end use application.

This PFIB will be the first specifically configured microscope dedicated to battery research in the world, allowing researchers at WMG to inform battery manufacturing, answer key scientific questions and link with industry and growing supply chains.

There is increased recognition in the battery community that the integration of new chemistries needed for the UK Government’s 2030 electric vehicle battery targets will require integrating new manufacturing processes with advanced microscopic characterisation. The PFIB has been specifically designed to address the critical challenges of studying alkali-based battery systems and will provide unique insights needed for the development of next generation batteries.

Picture shows cross section of a cathode and individual cathode particleThe performance of battery materials is dictated by the stability, efficiency and functionality of the interfaces, i.e. the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) at the anode and oxygen-induced cathode-electrolyte interface (CEI) at the cathode. Attempts to analyse these interfaces, in order to determine structure and chemistry, is seriously compromised using conventional techniques by the extreme air-sensitivity, beam sensitivity and the high volatility of certain species present. The specially configured PFIB microscope will address these issues.

 

WMG is one of seven HVM Catapult centres in the UK and is the lead centre for transport electrification. Investment in this PFIB is part of a range of equipment investments by the HVM Catapult and the University of Warwick to maintain WMG’s leading position in battery technology.

 

The PFIB has already secured interest from the Faraday Institution and from the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Lord Bhattacharyya Education Programme. Starting in the Autumn, a student will use this for a project entitled “The development of a new multi-modal capability for investigating the performance-controlling interfaces and microstructures that underpin operation of battery materials.”

 

The Lord Bhattacharyya Education Programme provides up to 90 bursaries annually for local students from lower socio-economic backgrounds. The objectives for the scheme include encouraging a greater number of young people from a more diverse range of backgrounds, raising their aspirations and skill levels. Moreover, it supports the growth of a science and engineering skills base for the UK.

 

The project will make extensive use of the new system to develop strategies for studying the degradation of buried interfaces and structure dynamics in state-of-the-art high Ni NMC cathodes as a function of cycle ageing i.e., the evolution of the cathode-electrolyte interphases. The platform provides some unique opportunities for developing powerful new ways to characterise these controlling interfaces and will form the basis for the project. Preliminary research will commence in October 2023. The project will be advertised online for interested applicants to apply – the studentships page, Jobs.ac.uk, FindAPhD.com and the Doctoral College website.

 

Find out more about WMG’s electrochemical research here: Electrochemical Materials (warwick.ac.uk)

 

The new PFIB microscope will be based in WMG’s Advanced Material Manufacturing Centre (AMMC).

 

Wed 05 Jul 2023, 11:20 | Tags: HVM Catapult Electrochemical Engineering Research

Warwick University's Formula Student Team Unveils Cutting-Edge Race Car for 2023 Season

The University of Warwick student team at Warwick Racing (WR), has unveiled its 2023 racing cars that will compete in the Formula Student competition atPicture shows the Warwick Racing car outside the Professor Lord Bhattacharyya building at the University of Warwick Silverstone just two weeks after the British Grand Prix.

The cars will be judged on speed, acceleration and endurance at the Formula Student competition – the largest student motorsport competition in the world.

With a legacy of engineering excellence and a passion for motorsport innovation, Warwick Racing is a team made up of over 100 talented and dedicated students from diverse backgrounds and disciplines, who work collaboratively to design, build, and race high-performance vehicles that compete against university teams from around the world.

This year, the team have built their first electric autonomous race car, Wrai and the WRe2 – a battery electric race car. The cars were unveiled on 29th June 2023, at the National Automotive Innovation Centre.

The cars include use of cutting-edge technology, such as torque vectoring which enhances performance, while the autonomous car applies advanced software and artificial intelligence (ai) to an electric racing car to enable driverless racing.

The Formula Student competition, run by the Institute of Mechanical Engineering, serves as a launchpad for the next generation of engineers and allows participants to showcase their technical expertise, creativity, and teamwork. Warwick University's team, known for their commitment to excellence, has achieved some remarkable results in previous years including second place for business performance in 2022, and winning ‘most reliable EV’ in 2021. This year Warwick Racing are entering all three classes at the competition: Formula Student, AI, and Concept.

Picture shows the Warwick Racing launch eventTeam Principle and MEng Mechanical Engineering student, Prem Singh Gill said "We are incredibly proud to present the WRe2 and WRai to the world. Our team has poured their hearts and souls into this project, and we are confident that our cars will make a strong impact in the upcoming Formula Student competition at Silverstone. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating the culmination of our hard work and dedication. We are incredibly grateful to the University, WMG, High-Value Manufacturing Catapult, and our main sponsor Optimas."

Student Projects Manager Dr James Meredith said: “The cars look fantastic, they represent a culmination of a huge effort from students and staff at WMG, University of Warwick and we are really proud to see them launched. We very much look forward to seeing them compete at Silverstone.”

Ends
Notes to editors
For media inquiries and interview requests, please contact:
Bron Mills, Bron.mills@warwick.ac.uk, +447824540720

About Warwick University Formula Student Team:
The Warwick University Formula Student team is an interdisciplinary group of students passionate about automotive engineering and motorsports. With a legacy of success and innovation, the team aims to design, build, and race high-performance vehicles that compete in the Formula Student competition. The team represents Warwick University on a global stage, showcasing their technical expertise and pushing the boundaries of automotive engineering.

Mon 03 Jul 2023, 12:59 | Tags: HVM Catapult Education

£220m boost to Midlands economy through WMG support programme

WMG at the University of Warwick is celebrating the completion of a major funded programme this week which has helped to add £220m to the Midlands economy.

Over the last five years, WMG’s Digital Innovation for Manufacturing (DI4M) has helped create 660 jobs and digitise 370 businesses – supporting hundreds of small and medium sized manufacturers across the Midlands.

New products have been taken to market through the programme including a novel electric charging point that attaches to lampposts, ultra-high speed 3D printer, and a wall climbing robot to undertake important maintenance work on tall buildings.

DI4M has been a five year, £10m programme supporting SME manufacturers to implement digital innovation. Delivered across the six Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) areas of Coventry and Warwickshire, Greater Birmingham and Solihull, the Black Country, South East Midlands, Leicester and Leicestershire and Worcestershire, it has been led by the SME Group within Warwick Manufacturing Group, part of the University of Warwick. The programme was funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult.

Image shows Jaltek apprenticeCompanies that have benefited include Jaltek Systems who were helped to set up a new factory layout using digital twin technology and who also accessed a funded internship to get two major production lines up and running.

Gordon Ellis & Co was also a recipient of the funded programme and they were able to implement sensors and data collection devices around the factory to boost productivity and reduce waste.

Although this project has reached its endpoint, WMG’s SME group are continuing to support manufacturing SMEs through the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, Made Smarter West Midlands and through new schemes such as its Net Zero Innovation Programme and Business Energy Advice Toolkit which helps businesses reduce energy and costs with low-cost technology solutions.

Dr Mark Swift, Director of SME Engagement said: “The DI4M programme has been an important anchor for Midlands SME businesses through a period of unprecedented challenge and disruption. The programme has been a constant effective enabler for introducing new ideas, new technology to boost productivity as well as acting as a springboard to Net Zero and business energy efficiency. The economic impact speaks for itself – adding £220m, or £22 for every £1 invested, to our region is something we are all immensely proud of. We now look forward to further successes from a range of new energy efficiency, digital and productivity programmes.”

Find out more about WMG here https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/

Thu 08 Jun 2023, 12:42 | Tags: SME HVM Catapult

New Director of Business Development appointed at WMG

Picture of Dyrr ArdashDyrr Ardash has been appointed as the new Director of Business Development for WMG, at the University of Warwick.

Dyrr will engage with education and research communities focusing on growing services to industry. He will lead business development across WMG, within professional education programmes and across all research areas - whether it be collaborative or industry funded opportunities. He will be engaging with a variety of customers from SMEs to large multi-nationals, within the UK and across the globe.

Dyrr is an automotive engineering graduate with more than 25 years’ experience in mobility and transportation, and a breadth of technical, commercial and strategic experience.

He started his career in powertrain development at Ford Motor Company, before joining DENSO where he developed electronic powertrain control and fuel systems for several European manufacturers. Dyrr held both Chief Engineer and senior commercial roles at Ricardo before joining WAE.

He has delivered projects globally in a variety of technical areas across products, from two-wheel mobility solutions, passenger cars, through to construction equipment and marine applications. At WAE he was responsible for strategic partnerships, collaborating closely with industry and academia, in addition to leading several de-carbonisation initiatives.

Dyrr explains: "I have long admired the impact that WMG has had on UK industry and its reach across the world. WMG capability is very relevant for the needs of today, but also the transformation of industry to one that will meet the sustainability requirements of mobility, transportation and beyond. I am very excited to be able to work with our current and potential partners to meet their sustainability goals and have a lasting impact on the world we live in.”

Professor David Greenwood, the CEO of the WMG centre High Value Manufacturing Catapult and Director for Industrial Engagement at WMG, University of Warwick, comments: “Dyrr joins WMG at an exciting time, as our primary research areas of electrification; sustainable materials; sustainable manufacturing; and sustainable transport are at the top of the agenda for government and much of industry.

“We look forward to broadening the impact of our research by working with an increasing number and type of businesses to deliver innovation into a wide range of market sectors.”

Find out more about the High Value Manufacturing Catapult centres here: https://hvm.catapult.org.uk/

To contact Dyrr about working with WMG, please email: wmgbusiness@warwick.ac.uk

You can also connect with Dyrr on LinkedIn

Wed 17 May 2023, 10:29 | Tags: HVM Catapult Education Research Our People

WMG marks fifth anniversary of its Graduate Development Programme

WMG, at the University of Warwick, is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its Graduate Development Programme.Picture shows graduates on WMG's Graduate Development Scheme

In the past five years, WMG has seen a total of 23 graduates complete the two-year scheme, with a further 24 part of the current programme.

Of those 23, 14 are working at WMG in engineering roles, and a further nine are employed by industry.

The programme provides graduates with an opportunity to accelerate their careers by undertaking a series of placements in different teams across the department.

Graduates complete up to three different project rotations in year one, followed by a more in-depth project in year two. It provides the perfect opportunity for self-discovery and valuable work experience, whilst earning a competitive graduate salary.

The scheme has grown in size since it was first launched, and graduates are now offered four distinct pathways of Energy Innovation; Smart, Connected & Autonomous Vehicles; Materials & Manufacturing, or Catapult Projects.

Friya Tailor, who completed the Energy Innovation pathway, and is now a Project Engineer at WMG, commented: “I became aware of the WMG Graduate Development Programme during my MSc project at the University of Nottingham.

“My research involved the development of lithium-sulfur cells for a range of applications. This closely linked to the everyday activities performed at WMG, which was my motivation for applying to the programme. The graduate scheme allowed me to translate the knowledge and skills obtained during my degree and use it in world-class projects with automotive industry partners. The rotational programme encompasses various placements that pushed me to work proactively and develop vital skills required in any working environment.”

Shivam Mishra, joined in 2021 after completing a B.Eng in Mechanical Engineering and a MSc in Sustainable Automotive Electrification. He commented: “I have worked in various domains ranging from automotive powertrains to aerospace motor manufacturing, learning both technical as well as professional skills. Working closely with industrial partners has given me the opportunity to enhance my commercial awareness in this ever-changing sustainable industry. I have improved my CAD and modelling skills along with learning niche hands-on manufacturing skills. I have also developed technical report writing skills allowing me to publish my first conference paper with my team.”

Harry Boyce, who is now a Project Engineer in the Automation Systems Group at WMG, commented: “The WMG graduate scheme is ideal for anyone who is keen to both develop their technical and personal skills. You have the flexibility to choose the direction for your projects and learn from an experienced supervisor.

“In my opinion the scheme is a great stepping-stone into research and industry from university. The strongest aspect of the scheme is the focus on development for the graduate. The Project Management module in the first year is a great example, this provides a certification in project management from the APM, and provided me with many useful skills I could apply to my projects.”

The opportunity to work on projects that have a real impact on society is a key driver for many applicants. Anima Rahman studied Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and is currently in the second year of the scheme. She commented: “A career in research is working with tomorrow’s technology. It is a chance to gain an insight into current challenges in the industry and play an active role in overcoming them.”

Jet Feng, who completed the scheme and is now a Lead Engineer at WMG added: "I think one of the most important aspects of the graduate scheme is the people I met. They have shaped who I am both professionally and personally, and taught me valuable life lessons that I will keep forever."

For some graduates the scheme has also opened up the opportunity for further study, with two of the 2021 cohort now studying for a PhD at WMG.

The scheme is part-funded by the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, under the theme of Workforce Development. The UK has a shortage of skilled workers in the engineering sector, and it was recognised, by the Catapult that initiating and supporting a scheme that could upskill STEM graduates would be valuable to all – WMG as an organisation, the graduates themselves, and industry partners. In addition, WMG is keen to promote a diverse workforce in the STEM sector, in particular, encouraging applications from females and from BAME communities. Graduates on the scheme have generally studied engineering at university, although some have studied other STEM subjects

The scheme provides an opportunity to gain experience in different fields, without having to commit completely to one specific area. By rotating around a variety of placements, the graduates are able to build their confidence and skills, as well as learning what sort of work they enjoy and may wish to pursue.

In October 2023 a new intake of graduates will begin the scheme. Find out more about the programme here :https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/wmg/careers/gs/

Mon 15 May 2023, 10:27 | Tags: HVM Catapult Our People Careers Skills

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