Exploring careers in STEM: Aveva Employer Insight Day at Villiers Park

We recently accompanied 21 Year 10 students from North Cambridge Academy for an employer insight day hosted by Aveva in Cambridge. The day offered students an exclusive glimpse into Aveva's engineering solutions and the breadth of work they do across the world, all within the local community of Cambridge.  

We were lucky enough to be joined by nine inspiring volunteers including members of the Women@Aveva network. It was brilliant for our all-female group of students to see the exciting career options open to them within the sector locally. 

We started the day with an introduction by Stefan Haller, the Research and Development VP at Aveva, who illuminated the crucial role of building key skills, such as communication and teamwork, to create successful solutions in Research and Development. Students were delighted to discover how the value of diversity in skills in teams drives innovation.

Speed Networking session with Aveva staff 

Next we moved onto speed networking where students were able to learn about roles ranging from Virtual Reality Designer and UX Designer to Research and Development roles in Product Development and User Research. This session gave students the chance to interact directly with Aveva staff members and demonstrate how the skills mentioned previously are used in the work they do. After lunch, we got stuck into a hands-on bridge-building challenge. Students worked in teams, racing against the clock to design and construct the most stable and functional bridges. From the "Valentine's Bridge" to designs incorporating wheelchair access, each bridge showcased creativity and problem-solving skills with most passing the crucial weight test!  

Bridge building task 

As the day drew to a close, students gained valuable insights into the myriad career options available in research and development within the sector on their doorstep. Discussions on the relevance of GCSE and A-level subjects in pursuing a career in STEM sparked enthusiasm and aspiration among students, empowering them to consider their future career paths. We were thrilled to be able to demonstrate the variety of roles that were on offer locally for students.  

Students present their bridge designs

The Aveva Employer Insight Day at Villiers Park proved to be an enriching experience, offering students a glimpse into the many opportunities they can access in their area. A huge thank you to Aveva and their Women@AVEVA network for making such an inspiring day possible.