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19/02/2010
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A UK design engineering specialist has announced an innovative route to encourage young people into engineering by recruiting the first apprentice under the 'Space Academy' programme.
 The scheme, managed in collaboration with the NSC, offers professional apprenticeships to young people between 16 and 18 who have at least six good GCSEs.
Magna Parva's first apprenticeship appointment has come just as the Government's Space Innovation and Growth Team (IGT) has published its report into the future of the UK space industry. The report recommended that the number of space apprenticeships in the UK be doubled.
Josh Thompson will work with Magna Parva for an initial three years while working towards his BTEC HNC qualifications. He will also receive training at the National Space Centre (NSC) on space exploration and communications skills.
Thompson's projects will include MIXS optics, designed for use in Mercury missions and the Life Marker chip for Martian exploration, while day to day work will involve testing hardware, recording test results, assembling manufactured equipment for testing and taking responsibility for hardware quality assurance.
Andrew Bowyer, Magna's director said: "We hear much about the importance of leading edge engineering to the UK economy, yet much undiscovered talent lies unused, especially among young people who have chosen not to follow an academic route."
Dr Sarah Hill, Space Academy Project Manager at the NSC agrees: "We're delighted to see Magna Parva taking a fresh approach with this scheme. We're sure Josh Thompson will benefit from his time at Magna Parva and make a valuable contribution to the work of the high quality team there."
Magna Parva was recently shortlisted for a Lord Stafford Award for Innovation in Development, recognizing the collaborative approach that has delivered a string of innovations in engineering for hostile environments.
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Author
Chris Shaw
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