Intel and Engineers Ireland partner to inspire Ireland’s future engineering talent

Intel Ireland is playing a leading role in inspiring Ireland’s future engineering talent through its partnership with the Engineers Ireland STEPS programme, the only national full-time STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) outreach programme with a focus on engineering.

Today at Scoil Chearbhaill Uí Dhálaigh in Leixlip, Co. Kildare, Ann-Marie Holmes, Vice President of Intel’s Manufacturing and Operations Group and Factory Manager at Fab24 and Joe English, Engineering Manager at Intel, joined Engineers Ireland’s Director General, Caroline Spillane to launch STEPS Engineers Week 2020. Taking place from February 29 until March 6, STEPS Engineers Week is a campaign held annually to promote engineering as a career and the importance of the profession to Ireland.

Ann-Marie Holmes, Vice President of Intel’s Manufacturing and Operations Group and Factory Manager at Fab24, said: “We are proud to partner with the Engineers Ireland STEPS programme to encourage young people to explore the diverse world of engineering. Today, we are delighted to be in Scoil Chearbhaill Uí Dhálaigh to launch Engineers Week 2020. This dynamic week plays an important national role in encouraging young people to imagine the impossible and to dream, invent, explore and create.”

Caroline Spillane, Director General of Engineers Ireland, said: “Industry involvement is central to the success of our STEPS Programme and we are pleased to partner with Intel once again to bring the fascinating world of engineering to life in communities throughout Ireland. Through our strategic partnership, we can further work together through the STEPS programme to help spark children’s imaginations about STEM and showcase the limitless opportunities a career in engineering can offer.”

In addition to Engineers Week 2020, taking place from 29 February – 6 March, the strategic partnership between the innovative technology company and the professional membership body for engineers in Ireland will focus on encouraging and inspiring the next generation of engineering talent in Ireland by engaging with primary and secondary school pupils through a number of key initiatives:

— The Young Engineers Award, a competition for 3rd and 4th class pupils to find Ireland’s next generation of engineering talent.

— Engineering Your Future Programme, providing Transition Year Students with an immersive experience amongst engineering academia and organisations.

— Engineering Girl Guides and Brownie Badges, an initiative developed with the Irish Girl Guides.

Ireland is Intel’s centre of manufacturing excellence in Europe. Since 1989, Intel has invested $15 billion, turning 360 acres of the Collinstown Industrial Park in Leixlip into the most advanced industrial campus in Europe. With over 25,000 members, Engineers Ireland is the voice of the engineering profession in Ireland. Established in 1835, it is one of the oldest and largest professional bodies in the country. Engineers Ireland members come from every discipline of engineering and range from engineering students to fellows of the profession.

The Engineers Ireland STEPS programme is also funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Department of Education and Skills and industry leaders ARUP, ESB and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). For more information, visit: www.steps.ie