Blog
By Stewart Edmondson
Each year, towards the end of the Summer, we host 60 UKESF Scholars in York for our Workshop. This is a residential professional development course for undergraduates entering the final year of their degree. This year we had Scholars from 17 universities (and having completed work experience at 38 different companies!) come together to hear expert speakers, participate in fun team building activities and begin to establish their professional network, all whilst preparing for graduate recruitment.
It is always a fantastic experience and this year was no exception. Our aim is that the Scholars’ feel inspired by the event and, in turn, I always find it incredibly inspiring to spend time with these fantastic young people. We ensure that the atmosphere is welcoming and collaborative, and those that participated helped us to create a safe space for discussion and learning. It’s a busy, thought provoking and exciting week. The packed agenda covers human behaviour, ethics, negotiation, managing diverse teams, sustainability, cyber security, as well as advice on networking, CV’s and entrepreneurship.
Our recent report into graduate work readiness discussed the non-technical skills that are sought after by Electronics employers, and our workshop aims to provide effective support for Scholars to build their skills and confidence beyond their Electronics subject knowledge.
We’re always thrilled to hear the feedback from the workshop, and this year, 98% of our Scholars rated it good or excellent. This year they told us:
“I thought it was an invaluable experience and I appreciate the effort gone into it!”
“It was particularly great to meet a range of female electrical engineering students as there aren’t that many around at uni!”
“Brilliant to see many topics from passionate and captivating speakers”
In 2022, our Scholarship received a special commendation from the Princess Royal Training Awards for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Our efforts to break down barriers and challenge stereotypes is evidenced by this years’ workshop cohort which comprised 30% female participants.
Applications are now open for the 2024/24 Scholarship Scheme. If you’re an undergraduate student, find out if you’re eligible to apply and begin your application here.
If you’re an employer and would like to find out how your company could benefit from connecting with a UKESF Scholar, click here for more information or get in touch by email at [email protected].
