Industry leaders come together to inspire next generation of students

Industry leaders from Leonard Design Architects, ARUP and Nottingham Trent University (NTU) have teamed up with Scale Rule to inspire the next generation of engineers, architects and designers in Nottingham.

Scale Rule is a social enterprise which aims to benefit young people interested in the built environment but also promotes diversity and better representation within the industry. The scheme engages local students in year nine or 10 and provides the opportunity for them to be directly involved in a real-life construction project from start to finish.

Leonard Design, NTU and ARUP recently held a weekend workshop at the NTU city campus. The weekend saw a number of interactive exercises including design, drawing, and model making, with an emphasis on teamwork.

Following a brief from the professionals, the teams were set the task of designing a pavilion for the heart of Nottingham. Each group was provided with materials to create concept sketches, models and detailed drawings. The finished designs were presented to a panel during the afternoon of the second workshop day.

John Morgan, director at Leonard Design, said: “We were thrilled to be involved in the Scale Rule event – it’s a really great initiative where young teens not only find out about why a career in engineering or design might be right for them but are able to put what they learn into action to create something physical.

“Getting to see something on paper become a reality is a really special process that they will undoubtedly remember when considering what they might like to do in the future.

“Our intention was to educate as well as inspire the teens who attended the workshop and encourage them into careers, such as architecture, that they might not have previously thought about.”