Led by the Royal Academy of Engineering in collaboration with EngineeringUK, This is Engineering Day aims to show young people what engineering really looks like – and why it can be a rewarding career path.
We’re proud to be involved as industry, educators and government work hand-in-hand to ensure we’re challenging stereotypes and providing real-life examples of engineering in action.
This year’s theme is #BeTheDifference: a celebration of the engineering that shapes our world for the better, whether that’s by making our day-to-day lives easier or by tackling some of our biggest global challenges.
The UK currently faces a major shortfall in engineering skills. Research has shown that the UK needs 21,000 more computer science graduates on average, every year, to meet the demands of the digital economy. In addition, EngineeringUK reports that only 12 percent of the UK engineering workforce are female and elements of the gender gap have been further widened by the COVID-19 pandemic.
At Amazon, we know that careers in engineering and technology are incredibly varied and rewarding. We appreciate how these roles are vital to addressing some of the greatest challenges of our time, and we want to play our part by overhauling perceptions of what engineering looks like and attracting future engineers into the profession.
Lauren Kisser is Director at Amazon’s Development Centre in Cambridge, where she is responsible for ensuring that Alexa can answer any question ever asked in any language – globally.
In support of This Is Engineering Day, Lauren said: “I’ve been lucky to have worked in technology for my entire career, and have innovated on some fascinating engineering programs. That’s why I’m a passionate advocate for engineering and STEM skills, especially among young women and girls: if we can help to engage more young people in these exciting, rewarding careers, we can help the next generation to shape their future. This Is Engineering Day is a brilliant way to push the conversation around engineering skills even further.”
