The Industrial Cadets Gold Mentored Projects is a programme run by UK education charity Engineering Development Team (EDT) to enable young people to connect directly with industry. Launched in 1984, the programme gives Year 12 and S5/6 students the opportunity to gain insight into the world of work through 60 hours of project-based work experience, tackling real sector problems, while being mentored by industry professionals.
The Frazer-Nash team members, comprising engineer Morgan Pollard and year-in-industry student Charlotte Aitken, were recognised with the Project of the Year award for their work mentoring six Year 12 students from Kingdown School in Warminster. Under the supportive and expert nurturing of their mentors, the students worked hard together on the challenging engineering project of building a wind tunnel. They were all working on the project as an extra-curricular activity alongside their A-Level studies. The project was mutually beneficial for students and mentors alike. The students gained experience in the end-to-end process of planning and delivering an engineering project while the mentors gained experience not only in defining a project brief that would inspire and enthuse the students, but also in managing a group of aspiring engineers.
The EDT Industrial Cadets celebration event, which took place at the Station-Creative Youth Network in Bristol, was graced by teams of students from around the South West of England, together with their teachers and mentors. Morgan and Charlotte were proud to be at the event with all six of their students and their teachers Andy Denny and Adam Marsh from Kingdown School.
Commenting on what it meant to him to support the students, Morgan Pollard said: "Mentoring this group of students through the Industrial Cadets scheme has been a true pleasure. Getting to guide them through a very complex project and see not just their enthusiasm for engineering grow, but also their confidence and belief in their own capabilities, has been incredible. To see their efforts rewarded with the top prize was amazing.”
Bina Atherley, Early Careers Business Partner at Frazer-Nash said: “We are so proud of Morgan, Charlotte and their team of students for winning the prestigious Industrial Cadets Gold Award Project of the Year 2025 for the South West Region. For students and mentors alike, it is a huge achievement, and we hope that they will continue to feel the value of the project work, their personal and professional development, and the kudos of winning for many years to come as their careers take off.”
“As a company of scientists and engineers, at Frazer-Nash, we are passionate about inspiring the next generation of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) professionals, and empowering and encouraging our Early Careers professionals to develop their carers through volunteering.”
“Morgan and Charlotte were enabled to become mentors for the Industrial Cadets programme through the Frazer-Nash STEM Outreach Hub. This was established in July 2022 to enable our people to undertake the STEM outreach activities they are passionate about, by providing clear and consistent support, and by facilitating a Frazer-Nash network to share experiences to help our people do the things that matter to them, and society. Congratulations once again to Morgan, Charlotte and their team from Kingdown School.”
