SEVEN youngsters aged between 14 and 16 recently spent a week with FANUC UK, gaining hands-on robotics experience as they learnt what it takes to become an automation engineer.
As part of FANUC’s campaign to break down barriers to careers in engineering and build a future manufacturing talent pipeline, the company invited a select group of teenagers into its UK HQ in Coventry for its first ever Work Experience Week.
Hailing from a variety of local schools and colleges, they received a practical insight into the world of automation at the FANUC Academy. Combining hands-on robot programming training with an introduction to project management, the group was given access to FANUC’s portfolio of industrial robotic and automation solutions, as well as learning about the sectors and applications in which they are used.
The students also took part in a Q&A session with FANUC staff including Hara Konstantelia, a technical sales support engineer who herself joined the industry through an apprenticeship programme and helped to run the week-long course.
“I’ve enjoyed seeing the level of passion these young people have shown towards automation, and their excitement to learn new things,” Hara said. “Having been down this route myself, supporting our work experience students on their own journey and expanding their perception of engineering has been a great experience.”
FANUC UK’s training academy recently achieved independent validation, allowing the company to offer accredited courses that can feed into mainstream education. The work experience programme is designed to showcase the opportunities available within automation and manufacturing.
“We understand the importance of giving young people the opportunity to have real-world, hands-on experience with industrial robots,” added Tony Bentham, head of customer service at FANUC UK. “FANUC’s Work Experience Week aims to ignite a spark in young people by showing just what it takes to forge a career in robotics, as well as giving them access to people who are successfully doing their dream job.”
For the majority of the participants, this was the first time they had used a robot. Nathaniel Sharpe (16) said, “It’s been a really exciting experience and I’ve enjoyed it so much. I learnt a lot about the different types of robots produced by FANUC – from collaborative ones that you can work alongside, to some that can pick up items with a vacuum or grippers, to ones that can carry huge loads up to 2-3 tonnes.
“This was my first time using a robot and I thought it would be a lot harder than it actually was – programming it was surprisingly straightforward! The week I spent at FANUC really opened my eyes to the world of robotics and engineering – I’d recommend the work experience programme to anyone.”
The success of the Work Experience Week and positive feedback from participants has prompted FANUC to consider running similar events in the future. Hara Konstantelia said, “Activities like this are so important as the skills required for engineering today are not always accurately represented in the media, especially on platforms aimed at younger people. I hope the students left the week inspired and with a clearer idea of what opportunities are available to them.”
