Siemens in Lincoln - Competency Management: The long term approach

Siemens has been developing collaborative links with education in Lincoln and its surrounding area for many years.  Typical initiatives include careers fairs, support for curriculum development and work experience. However two initiatives Siemens is particularly proud of and which are different from the standard school links are the ‘Females into Industry Challenge’ which focuses on encouraging more females to consider science, technology, engineering and maths as a career, and the development of Siemens’ education programme for Higher Education through its unique collaborative relationship with the University of Lincoln. 

On an annual basis the business operates a ‘Females into Industry Challenge’ in collaboration with Lincoln College. Since 2003 156 Year 8 students from schools within Lincolnshire have had the opportunity to experience industry first hand by working on a challenge to design and make a desk tidy in two days using computer aided design and manufacturing equipment as well as traditional skills. In Year 9 the same group of students are invited to return to take part in a one day event to design and make a clock, these students are then invited to take up work experience placements in either Year 10 or 11 allowing them to further develop their interest in engineering.

Siemens’ collaboration with the University of Lincoln has enabled the first purpose built School of Engineering to be built in the UK for more than 20 years. The benefits for the company and other small and medium enterprises in the locality are evident as it brings previously unavailable, qualified talent to the area.