TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT Insight
TOMORROW’S ENGINEERS WEEK: DARE TO DISCOVER
Running 10-14 November, Tomorrow’s Engineers Week brings together the engineering and tech community, and aims to shine a light on inspiring engineers and technicians, shaping young people’s perceptions of the industry. This year’s theme, ‘Dare to Discover’, aims to engage 11 to 14 year olds in the unlimited potential of not being afraid to explore and be curious – even when things don’t quite go according to plan. From experiments that result in the unexpected to career paths that take unlikely turns, the week will demonstrate how trial and error is at the heart of engineering and technology.
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n support of Tomorrow’s Engineers Week, IHEEM and its members are helping to break down stereotypes and introduce young people to the healthcare engineering landscape. As part of this initiative, the Institute has
contributed a blog post on what healthcare engineering can involve and why it matters, the range of job roles available, and routes into the industry. In addition to this, two IHEEM members
have supported with the production of content for schools, sharing real-life experiences of unusual paths into the industry, and how not always getting things ‘right’ the first time, is not always such a bad thing. In his contribution to these resources, Matthew Gilmore, Technical director at Guardian Electrical Compliance and IHEEM East Midlands Branch secretary, recounts starting his career in electrical engineering at the age of 18 as an apprentice electrician. He knew he wanted to work in the construction industry and opted to be an electrician as he was interested in science and technology. “People like me didn’t go to university because of my background, and I didn’t fit the mould
16 Health Estate Journal November 2025
of the academic approach utilised in secondary schools,” he said.
Role model
Matthew expanded on his experience: “I quickly realised that I had a natural turning to the science element of the training, although I did enjoy installation work and the time on building sites using my new skills. It was identified by my lecturers that
I would be suitable to work at a higher level within the industry and I had made the wrong decision by starting as an electrician. I was lucky to have a great role model at work who disregarded this opinion. He said two things that have stuck with me throughout my career. “Firstly, he said, ‘You are where you need
to be’. “I didn’t understand this at the time,
but now I look back and identify by being in that job role, I was gaining experience working with the tools and materials of the industry, working within a hierarchy and learning the positions of management, and realising how I did not want to be if I progressed into a management position. “Secondly, he quoted: ‘Anyone that has not made mistakes, has not tried something new’.
“This helps me understand that I must get out of my comfort zone to progress. I take the unknown as a challenge and try to remember that you don’t always have to get things right first time. This includes the choices you make in your career.” Christine Thomas, Assistant Major Capital Development manager at Hywel Dda UHB, also gives her take on the unexpected twists and turns a professional journey can take for the TE Week school resources. “I was once told that careers are like jungle gyms – not ladders. You bounce around, try different paths, and eventually
I quickly realised that I had a natural turning to the science element of the training, although I did enjoy installation work and the time on building sites using my new skills
Matthew Gilmore, Technical director at Guardian Electrical Compliance
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