Young talent given head start at engineering consultancy

AT a time when the national and global focus is on opportunities for young people during the coronavirus pandemic, a pioneering UK engineering and project management consultancy has underlined its commitment to investing in the future.

REACT Engineering, which is known for developing young talent, has recruited six new team members. Five of the new starters are aged 18 to 24.

REACT, which designs and creates innovative technological solutions for a range of industries from its base in Cumbria, now has its biggest ever workforce with 42 employees.

Managing director Phil Redfern said the company proactively recruits young people because they have the potential to look at problems with a fresh perspective and fresh thinking.

He said: “We operate by encouraging smart thinking and a solution-based approach to complex issues in industry. Our mantra is that we provide ‘smart answers to difficult problems’.

“We are able to innovate, to be agile, and to provide effective and efficient solutions to problems in a range of sectors because we nurture our people, often young people, and encourage them to take responsibility from an early stage in their careers. That allows them to create some seriously clever stuff.”

New recruit Tom Wright, 24, from Egremont, has joined the team as a Graduate Engineer and is excited by the potential opportunities at REACT.

Tom said: “REACT is known as an employer which supports and nurtures young talent and I feel so lucky to be part of the team. I can’t wait to take advantage of the opportunity I have been given.

“It was great to see five of us, all around the same age and all from West Cumbria, starting at REACT at the same time.”

Another new team member, Charlotte Nann, 18, from Workington, was keen to pursue a vocational qualification after A-levels and found the perfect fit as a Project Management Apprentice at REACT.

Charlotte said: “I wanted to study and work in West Cumbria and REACT’s apprenticeship programme was a great fit. I can work towards my degree and get on-the-job experience at the same time.”

In 2019, Charlotte took part in REACT’s Into Engineering initiative, a week-long seminar for local Year 12 students which gives them an introduction to life as a professional engineer.

She said: “We were set practical tasks which we might encounter as a real-life engineer and had to find solutions for them. It gave me a real idea of what life would be like as an engineer.”

Kevin Lewins, 36, who has joined REACT as a Senior Project Manager, said he was looking forward to helping develop and support new young talent as part of his role. Kevin said: “It’s really rewarding to be able to support people at the start of their careers and see them develop.”

MEET THE NEW RECRUITS

Tom Murphy, 23, Graduate Engineer

For Tom Murphy, REACT Engineering gave him a fantastic opportunity to pursue his chosen field of engineering. After A-levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry, the 23-year-old from Whitehaven spent a Year in Industry at REACT before heading off to Manchester Metropolitan University. As part of REACT’s undergraduate placement scheme, he spent three-months every summer working for the company and gaining valuable on-the-job experience at the same time.

He completed his four-year combined degree and masters in Mechanical Engineering in June – and began work as a Graduate Engineer at the Cleator Moor-based company after graduating.

Tom said: “I love the fact that every day is different at REACT because you’re faced with different problems and we work together to find solutions to them.”

Tom started his journey with REACT while in Sixth Form at Keswick School when he took part in the company’s annual Into Engineering seminar. The initiative provides an opportunity for young people to get a taste of life as a professional engineer and provides a vital stepping stone for many into the industry.

Tom said: “I’m really excited about starting the next chapter with REACT. It’s a brilliant, forward-thinking company and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve.”

Kirby Johnston, 24, Consultant Engineer

Kirby Johnston, 24, from Whitehaven, was inspired to apply for a job at REACT Engineering after hearing about its excellent reputation in the industry, particularly its support for young people. She has joined the team as a Consultant Engineer, having previously worked at Jacobs, a global engineering firm, which has a base at the Westlakes Science Park, near Whitehaven.

Kirby said: “I’d heard about how REACT encourages problem solving and teamwork and thought that would be a great next step in my career. At REACT, no idea is a bad idea. You’re encouraged to think out of the box and find innovative solutions to problems.”

After achieving A-levels in Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Biology at St Benedict’s in Whitehaven, Kirby studied for an undergraduate apprenticeship in mechanical design. She is ready for the new challenge offered by the role at REACT.

“This is a new direction for me and I’m looking forward to facing the new, exciting challenges ahead.”

Tom Wright, 24, Graduate Engineer

While Tom Wright, 24, was in his final year at university, he spent time carefully researching potential employers. He knew that he wanted to return home to Cumbria and was looking for a company which could offer him the right opportunities close to home. One company stood out head and shoulders above the rest: REACT Engineering, where he now works as a Graduate Engineer.

Tom said: “I have to pinch myself at how lucky I am to have been given this opportunity. I like the ethos behind the company and the knowledge that we’ll be working together to complement our strengths.

“To be so close to home is fantastic. I can cycle to work. It’s great that these opportunities exist in the county for young people like me.”

After doing A-levels in Maths, Physics and Chemistry at St Bees School, Tom went to Newcastle University to study Chemistry followed by a Masters in Environmental Engineering, which he completed this summer.

He credits the Dream Placement scheme, a work experience programme featuring some of Cumbria’s top employers, for igniting his passion for the industry. His week with the National Nuclear Laboratory led to summer placements with the organisation and a year’s placement as part of his degree.

“I’m looking forward to getting involved in projects and making the most of the opportunity I’ve been given by REACT,” he said.

Charlotte Nann, 18, Project Management Apprentice

The chance to study for a degree and work at the same time was the ideal post-A-level move for Charlotte Nann. Charlotte, 18, from Workington, was keen to pursue her education close to home, rather than go away to university, so was delighted to secure a Project Management Apprenticeship with REACT Engineering.

Charlotte, who took A-levels in Biology, Maths and Health and Social Care at St Benedict’s School in Whitehaven, took part in REACT’s Into Engineering seminar last year, which she says gave her a valuable insight into the industry.

Charlotte said: “We were given a problem and had to find the safest, quickest and most cost-effective way to deal with it. It was such a valuable experience.”

While in Year 12, Charlotte successfully applied for a bursary from the REACT Foundation, a charity established in 2004 with the objective of raising the aspirations of local young people and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers.

“I’m really looking forward to studying for my degree and working as part of the REACT team,” she said.

Logan Adshead, 18, Trainee Engineer

When he was in Sixth Form, Logan Adshead was part of a team which took part in REACT Engineering’s Elevated Horizons project. The project, held as part of the company’s 25th birthday celebrations, involved students designing, building and launching a device capable of reaching an altitude high enough to record compelling footage of the curvature of the earth, images of the atmosphere and the darkness of space. Logan had always been interested in engineering but the ‘balloon project’ showed him how engineering could be as much about problem solving as practical applications. That experience was underlined when he took part in the week-long Into Engineering work experience programme, also run by REACT, in which he was tasked with finding ways to decommission a fictional site.

Logan, 18, from Cleator Moor, is now putting those experiences into action after joining the REACT team on the Year in Industry scheme. He will work as a Trainee Engineer for a year before going to Staffordshire University in 2021 to study AI and Robotics.

Logan, who studied Physics, History, Product Design and Core Maths at West Lakes Academy in Egremont, said: “Being part of the REACT team and working on engineering projects will give me a fantastic grounding in the industry.”

Kevin Lewins, 36, Senior Project Manager

With more than 14 years of industry experience, Kevin Lewins’ knowledge and expertise is a valuable addition to the REACT Engineering team. Kevin, 36, has a proven track-record of delivering multi-million projects across different sectors.

He joins the team from RED Engineering, based in Hexham, where he was Head of Projects and Commercial.

Kevin said: “I think my interest in engineering was always there because my dad was an engineer. I enjoyed Physics and Maths at school and studied Mechanical Engineering at Newcastle University, where I also completed my masters.

“While I was working at RED Engineering, I was involved with a project for the nuclear sector in which we worked with REACT Engineering. It sparked an interest in the nuclear industry, and it’s great to be working with the team now.”