CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive
25 January 2005
Implementation Investments
UGS and AESSEAL Supporting Engineers of the Future
UGS and AESSEAL, a global engineering company, have combined to provide an in-kind grant of computer-aided design (CAD) software to schools and colleges in South Yorkshire in a bid to support the development of the next generation of engineers.
The initiative, called "Back To Grass Roots," currently provides more than 7,000 seats of UGS' Solid Edge® computer-aided 3D design software to more than 36 schools, colleges and universities from Rotherham, Sheffield and Doncaster. The teachers and pupils also receive free training on how to use the software.
The scheme has been so successful that a number of pupils who have benefited from the software and training have won design awards including Fern Brown, a Year 7 student at Ridgewood, Doncaster, who won the 2004 Regional ICSYS CAD/CAM challenge.
Steve Manley, Ridgewood's Design and Technology teacher, has driven the use of the CAD software at the school. "Pupils have been enthused by the generation of 3D CAD models of their work. It has also been nice for them to see the link with industry through AESSEAL plc and to experience how design software is used in the creation of their mechanical seals," said Manley. "We believe the use of Solid Edge and guidance from AESSEAL has played a major part in our success in these awards."
The "Back to Grass Roots" campaign was inaugurated after AESSEAL plc learned that educational institutions had found it almost impossible to finance and maintain the latest 3D design software. Students and graduates were leaving without the essential skills to enable them to obtain a rewarding career in design and engineering.
Jonathon Woodhead, marketing manager of AESSEAL plc, which employees 250 people at its two sites in Rotherham said, "As an employer of British engineering talent we feel it is important to help nurture young people and encourage them to enter the industry. The Back to Grass Roots initiative is our way of doing this."
Netta Sjodin, head of UK Marketing at UGS, said, "We felt this project was a great way for UGS to help support the future success of engineering in a part of the UK where historically engineering has been very important for UK industry."
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