HMS Sultan welcomed some of the brightest children from across the UK recently for an Engineering masterclass with the Royal Navy and The Smallpeice Trust.
The Nuclear Marine Engineering course saw 46 students take part in a series of practical workshops and lectures provided by staff from the Nuclear Systems Group of the Defence School of Marine Engineering (DSMarE), HMS Sultan.
This was in support of a wider programme of activities provided by the Royal Navy, in conjunction with leading engineering support services company Babcock and educational charity The Smallpeice Trust.
During their time within HMS Sultan, the children also took in tours of the Defence College of Technical Training’s DSMarE and the Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival Equipment School (RNAESS) to look at simulators, workshops, marine diesel engines, gas turbines and naval aircraft.
The activities were part of a four-day residential course for 13 and 14 year old students, aimed at providing an insight into nuclear marine engineering. In addition, youngsters learnt all about life in the Royal Navy.
Other activities within the week included a challenge with Babcock engineers, a formal mess dinner which was held for the students within the Wardroom at HMS Excellent, visits to local attractions including Action Stations at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard and the Submarine Museum, Gosport.
In addition, the students got to spend several nights living on board HMS Bristol.
The Smallpeice Trust is an engineering charity which aims to inspire young people in to Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics(STEM).
Clara Fletcher, Education Administrator for the course said: “It’s important for the kids who have an interest in the industry to have the opportunity to see what a career in the field would be like first hand.
“All of our courses are designed to offer students a taster which is vital in helping them choose what they want to do.”
“Staying onboard HMS Bristol offers a real-life insight, which unless they were to join the Navy will never be repeated.”
“The group is a good mix of girls and boys and everyone has really got involved and seems to be enjoying it.”
Charlie South, a year 9 student from Bishop Luffa in Chichester, was among those children fortunate enough to take part in the course, he said: “At Easter I took part in the Trust’s course on Cyber Security and as I like Engineering I thought I would try this one too.”
“I’ve learnt a lot of new things, on the first course it taught us about hacking and this course has taught us all about nuclear reactors.”
“I sail competitively at home, so I quite like looking at all the different boats. I like the idea of being a weapons engineer in the Navy and travelling when I am older.”
2018 is ‘The Year of Engineering’ a year-long, cross- Government campaign, which the Royal Navy is fully supporting, aimed at raising the profile of engineering amongst 7 to 16 year olds and widening the pool of young people that consider engineering as a career.
Visit liaison officer Lieutenant Stu Moss said: "It is really inspiring to see the enthusiasm that some of these youngsters bring to this course.
“The diversity of thought when presented challenges, the inquisitive minds and questions asked all add to the complete experience, even for me.
“I endeavour to deliver information on engineering within the Royal Navy across the week, specifically Marine Engineering aboard Submarines, as well as introducing a snippet of Naval Life; the Mess dinner is a real favourite from previous courses.”
