EDINBURGH COLLEGE BRINGS HANDS-ON ENGINEERING TO DYNAMIC EARTH’S STEM CAREERS SHOWCASE

On the 9th and 10th of March, Dynamic Earth’s Careers Showcase, Your Planet, Your Future!, once again brought together hundreds of young people for two days of discovery, inspiration, and hands‑on STEM exploration – and at the heart of the action was the Engineering Zone, proudly supported by Edinburgh College.

A new partnership between Dynamic Earth and Edinburgh College gave young learners the chance to meet expert lecturers from the College’s automotive engineering team, each bringing cutting‑edge technology and real‑world industry insight. The Engineering Zone highlighted the future of this evolving industry, and the exciting career pathways available in the sector including college courses and apprenticeships.

During the event learners also enjoyed live panel sessions with real scientists and experts working in STEM and sustainability. Edinburgh College’s Heavy Vehicle Lecturer, Alan Phillips, shared his career journey from college, apprenticeships, and on the job training to build his skills in mechanics, to training students in electric heavy-duty vehicles.

Edinburgh College brought hands-on activities to the careers Showcase, including:

Steven Frampton, Vehicle Body Repair Lecturer, introduced learners to the world of welding through an innovative virtual welding simulator.

This immersive technology allows students to practice welding techniques in a controlled, safe, and environmentally friendly setting with no sparks, fumes, or wasted materials.

As the transport sector rapidly transitions towards electric power, Edinburgh College is offering industry-leading training and education focused on the next generation of commercial vehicles.

Light Vehicle Lecturers, Andrew Lawson and Brian Alexander, demonstrated the safety principles involved in working with Large Goods Electric Vehicles. Pupils explored the procedures used in industry workshops today, giving learners a realistic insight into how technicians diagnose, maintain, and repair electric HGVs.

To complete the Engineering Zone’s interactive experiences, learners explored a Large Goods Electric Vehicle VR simulator with Kerry Dempsey, Light Vehicle Lecturer.

The simulator created a powerful opportunity for young people to visualise the scale and structure of electric HGVs in a safe learning environment, sparking curiosity about the engineering behind them and the variety of roles involved building these vehicles.

Dynamic Earth and Edinburgh College brought the world of transport engineering to life for over 600 young people from Edinburgh, Fife and the Lothians this year. By highlighting sustainable automotive innovations, our partnership demonstrated new opportunities for young learners to make a difference when they enter the world of work.

We were thrilled to work together to showcase future‑focused careers available across the sector and inspire the next generation of engineers, technicians, and problem‑solvers.

“Edinburgh College is proud to support the Careers Showcase because it aligns with our mission to provide accessible, high-quality education that prepares students for real world careers. Events like this allow the College to directly link with school pupils, showcase progression pathways, and highlight the wide range of industries available through further education.

The collaboration with Dynamic Earth makes learning more engaging and accessible, helping to spark curiosity. Supporting STEM events also reinforces the College’s commitment to widening participation and building key links with school pupils.”
– Edinburgh College