STAFFORD, UK (July 3, 2025) – Last week, GE Vernova and The Inspirational Learning Group celebrated the graduation of 27 students from Next Engineers, a three-year global career readiness programme creating opportunities for young people to become engineers. This is the second graduating class of Next Engineers: Engineering Academy students in Staffordshire, UK.

The 27 students from across Staffordshire celebrated their graduation alongside family, friends, GE Vernova, and The Inspirational Learning Group at Uttoxeter Racecourse. The Inspirational Learning Group is the educational partner for the local Next Engineers programme, which was established in 2021.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our second cohort,” said Vera Silva, Chief Technology & Strategy Officer of GE Vernova’s Electrification Systems businesses. “The Next Engineers programme continues to equip young people with not only the technical skills needed to become an engineer but also transferable skills such as time management, communication and adaptability. We recognise that there are many pathways to become an engineer in the UK, which is why we are pleased to be the only Next Engineers location to offer scholarships for apprenticeships as well as university degrees.”

Students who complete the Engineering Academy programme and enrol in a qualified engineering/engineering-related degree programme or apprenticeship receive scholarships to support their education toward becoming engineers. To date, the Next Engineers programme in Staffordshire has reached nearly 8,800 students and awarded £147,500 ($199,000) in scholarships to qualifying graduates.

"We’re incredibly proud to partner with a global organisation like GE Vernova to deliver meaningful opportunities for young people here in Staffordshire,” said Ben Dyer, Co-Founder of The Inspirational Learning Group. “Together, we’re not just promoting careers in STEM, we’re opening doors, building confidence, and helping students gain skills that will prepare them for a successful future. We’re proud of what this programme has achieved and we're excited to keep supporting the next generation of engineers."

The Next Engineers: Engineering Academy is a transformative learning experience designed for students aged 15 to 18. Through a rigorous curriculum, immersive design challenges, and career coaching, students learn to think and act like engineers. Engineers and employees from GE Vernova’s three facilities in Staffordshire, actively engage with the programme through skill-based volunteering, donating over 7,200 hours since the start of the programme.

For more information about Next Engineers and the Engineering Academy, visit NextEngineers.org.

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About Next Engineers
Next Engineers, a programme originally funded by the GE Foundation in 2021, now known as the GE Aerospace Foundation, is a career readiness programme dedicated to inspiring and preparing the next generation of engineers. Through innovative programmes, mentorship, and community partnerships, we empower young minds to shape a better future through engineering.

About The Inspirational Learning Group
The Inspirational Learning Group develop and deliver innovative career solutions for students, education institutes and employers across the U.K. and beyond. We are proud to have engaged and positively influenced over 600,000 students through our flagship programme, The National Careers Challenge, our real-life business challenge that enables young people to develop crucial key employability skills, vital for the ever-changing world of work. Our portfolio also includes additional programmes such as our Stocks & Shares Challenge, My Perfect University, Team Building challenges and summer school provision. As the partner of choice for outreach activity of several large, high-profile organisations such as NatWest and GE Vernova, TILG are being increasingly relied on to create truly bespoke education and outreach initiatives to support development, social mobility and inclusion. We are changing the way that young people are educated about their future world of work, engaging, inspiring, and motivating them to succeed.