Leading Welsh businesses ‘electrifying’ STEM landscape

Leading scientific centre Techniquest, global manufacturer Sony UK Technology Centre, and innovative intellectual property firm Wynne Jones IP are jointly putting Wales on the map by promoting STEM education, careers, and development.

Each organisation, while focussing on vastly different aspects of STEM, will not only support career opportunities across Wales but will ultimately inject much-needed life into the nation’s scientific industry for decades to come.

Kickstarting the week Techniquest, Wales’s leading scientific education centre, submitted significant £5.7 million plans for a Science Capital Project, which will not only extend its landmark building in Cardiff Bay but also aim to attract a wider and more diverse audience to enjoy scientific learning.

The multimillion-pound scheme will house brand new content related to, and developed with, Welsh science, technology, engineering and mathematics innovators, academics and communities.

Alongside the building’s expansion, the project’s focus on supporting greater scientific learning will no doubt be welcome news for thousands of Welsh graduates looking to pursue rewarding STEM careers in the near future.

Its announcement comes at a vibrant time for the Welsh scientific community, with the Welsh Government also announcing £8.2 million in funding to increase take-up and grades in STEM subjects last month.

The Trio Sci Cymru Project will aim to support greater learning among pupils in North, West, and South Wales in a bid to curb the predicted STEM skills gap over the coming years.

Techniquest CEO Lesley Kirkpatrick said: “This is such an exciting time for Techniquest, and it has been full steam ahead in our Science Capital project since securing funding.

“Not only will this project secure the future of our charity and expand on the diverse educational content Techniquest provides, it will also enable us to deliver a far greater breadth of opportunities for educational STEM learning in Wales with the aim of educating and inspiring a new generation of scientists.”

Two other organisations attempting to support STEM skills growth and nurture the progression of Wales’s STEM industry, are Sony UK TEC and Wynne Jones IP.

Both the leading manufacturing facility and the nationwide intellectual property firm have launched major recruitment initiatives supporting engineering careers over the past month.

Renowned manufacturer Sony UK TEC, which has just celebrated its 25^th anniversary in Pencoed, is searching for 10 engineering talents, from graduate level to skilled, to join its industry-leading team.

Successful candidates would get the opportunity to support production of Sony’s groundbreaking products, including 4K broadcast equipment, alongside third-party technology including the Raspberry Pi.

Gerald Kelly, director of professional services at Sony UK TEC, said: “Sony UK TEC has entered an extremely exciting phase in its history, celebrating both our 25^thanniversary in Pencoed, and seeing manufacturing output reach record levels in 2018.

“As such we felt this was the right time to expand the level of talent and skill in our highly successful engineering teams, which are so crucial to the continued success and progression of our factory.

“This is an unmissable opportunity for anyone in the engineering industry looking to work at the forefront of cutting-edge technological innovation. Our engineers are among the most skilled and celebrated in the industry and consistently push the boundaries of manufacturing innovation.”

Also looking to add engineering talents to its thriving team is Cardiff-based intellectual property firm Wynne Jones IP.

The specialist firm, which advises across all aspects of patents, trademarks, design rights, and copyright, is looking to recruit graduates to join its celebrated in-house Training Academy.

The scheme sees recruits undergo a diverse range of specialist modules with the aim of creating industry-leading Patent and Trademark Attorneys.

As part of this, graduates get the unique opportunity to utilise their science-related degree in a highly innovative way to help protect some of the world’s most successful products.

Martin Hyden, Senior Patent Attorney and Head of the Training Academy at Wynne-Jones IP said this was an “opportunity not to be missed” for graduates looking to start a rewarding and exciting career.

Mr Hyden said: “Our specialist scheme offers so much more than many prospective applicants realise. We don’t just focus on technical IP training, but we offer a comprehensive look into all aspects of working in the industry to create fully-rounded attorneys who can excel in the modern IP climate.

“Through the scheme they develop a commercial understanding of how businesses operate and explore the crucial role IP plays in securing long-term financial security and success.

“We think this is an opportunity not to be missed for any graduate looking to kick start a rewarding and exciting career.”

With all three different organisations championing growth across Wales’s STEM industry and enhancing educational and learning opportunities for the next generation, Wales’s scientific community looks set to thrive in 2019!

Applicants to the Wynne Jones IP Training Academy must be studying a degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering or a related degree, with studies completed in the 2018/19 academic year and they require a 2:1 grade or above.

To apply click here. Applications close at midnight on December 31, 2018.

To find out more about engineering vacancies at Sony UK TEC click here.