New digital engineering platform to upskill Britain’s engineering and manufacturing workers

28 July, 2020

ENGAGE is claimed to be the first learning hub to specifically target engineering and manufacturing sectors, offering a range of courses from easy first digital engineering steps to more sophisticated technologies and innovation.

Development of the platform has been accelerated to support workers at a time when many may have found themselves furloughed. Helping engineers, technicians and wider manufacturing employees to learn and explore digital processes will also help support a much needed post-COVID 19 productivity boost by enabling them to learn the latest digital techniques. Returning employees will be upskilled and more agile as a workforce, and better able to adapt and respond to the pace of global technological innovation to help their companies recover at speed.

Some of the country’s most cutting-edge companies, centres of innovation and organisations have made content available for the first time for the platform’s launch, including the High Value Manufacturing Catapult, the Institute of Engineering and Technology, Excellence, Achievement and Learning, Make UK and FutureLearn. In the coming weeks more content will be added from Formula 1 and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

 ENGAGE is easy to navigate and offers support to learners at all levels. First-time digital engineering learners can use a simple chatbot-style interface, which guides them to their specific areas of interest to create a bespoke learning experience. The platform has worked closely with Made Smarter to develop and curate two introductory courses on digital technology and its role in manufacturing and engineering, with content from Made Smarter industry partners, including Rolls-Royce. Key technologies covered in the courses include data analytics, the Industrial Internet of Things, Cyber security resilience, industrial and autonomous robotics and additive manufacturing. Those logging on will also be able to become familiar with virtual augmented reality as well as artificial intelligence and its applications alongside machine learning, and throughout the learning experience, users’ understanding will be supplemented by a quick quiz to test learners’ grasp of the subject.

More advanced learners are also supported by ENGAGE. Beyond introductory materials, learners can continue their digital journey by enrolling in the ENGAGE Academy on the platform to access some more free formal courses in the online classroom space.

On the frontline

Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity Group, comments: “ENGAGE is an extraordinary collaborative effort from across the sector which will be of real benefit to thousands of users and UK industry as a whole.

“There is no doubt that engineers will be on the frontline in the battle for economic recovery and this digital initiative will play its part ensuring that as many as possible are equipped to deal with the challenges ahead.