Our mission began with a clear vision: to bring the transformative success of Engineering Tomorrow in the United States to students here in the United Kingdom.
Inspiring Engineers is a collective of industry and education professionals who believe the future of engineering is best secured by investing in the present. Many built our own careers through engineering, we founded Inspiring Engineers to give back to the profession that shaped us.
We believe young people deserve more than learning from a textbook. They deserve to experience it. That’s why we bridge the gap between classroom theory and real-world impact through engineering experiences led by engineers. Our programmes replace passive learning with practical problem-solving, teamwork and creativity, – giving students the opportunity to think, build, test, and discover.
Most importantly, we want every student, to see that engineering is accessible, exciting, and full of possibility. Our goal is to help every young person recognise that they have the potential to shape the world.
“As the school’s new STEM Coordinator, I have seen how much enthusiasm these sessions generate. Students often leave inspired and curious, asking further questions about engineering careers and pathways they had not previously considered, and they are most keen for the next session and regularly ask when it will take place.”
Nina Jedamzik STEM
Coordinator and Teacher of Mathematics
Hazelwick School
“The engagements with our students this academic year have been exceptional! The students immerse themselves in the challenges set and develop essential employability skills; Teamwork, Leadership, Problem Solving, Creativity and Resilience. In addition to this, of course, they gain meaningful experiences of the workplace with incredibly knowledgeable and inspiring staff – gaining insights into what it takes to become an engineer and that this could be an aspiration for them to achieve.”
Sue Daniel
Careers Lead
West Sussex Alternative Provision College
At Inspiring Engineers, we’re proud to work alongside our sister organisation Engineering Tomorrow. While we operate as independent charities with separate boards, we collaborate, share expertise, and maintain a unified vision: to get more young people excited about engineering.
Building on the amazing success that Engineering Tomorrow has been achieving in the USA since 2014, Inspiring Engineers launched as a registered charity in the UK in 2026.
We have adapted Engineering Tomorrow’s proven models to fit the unique needs of the UK charity and education sectors, ensuring we remain independent and transparent in everything we do. It’s a true partnership built on shared values and a common mission.
From time to time, Inspiring Engineers and Engineering Tomorrow will partner and work together on exciting projects and opportunities that help expand our collective impact even further.
Michael McGhee is Deputy Chairman and a Founding Partner of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), which he joined at its inception in 2006.
At GIP, Michael leads the firm’s transport sector investment teams, covering areas such as airports, ports, and freight rail.
Before founding GIP, Michael was Managing Director and Head of Global Transportation and Logistics at Credit Suisse from 1998 to 2006, having previously served as Managing Director and Head of Transportation at BZW between 1990 and 1998. Michael holds a BA in Government and Economics from the University of Manchester.
Sir David Higgins is an Australian civil engineer, Chair of United Utilities Group PLC and holds a portfolio of non‑executive roles, including directorships in the infrastructure and transport sectors.
Having graduated with a Bachelor of Civil Engineering from the University of Sydney, David began his career with work in the United Kingdom and Africa before returning to Australia.
He was knighted in 2011 for his services to the London Olympics and received an honorary Doctor of Engineering from the University of Sydney in 2023 in recognition of his more than 40 years of contributions to engineering and infrastructure.
David led the delivery of major infrastructure projects, including the venues and infrastructure for the 2012 London Olympic and Paralympic Games, was Chief Executive of Network Rail, and has held Chairmanships at HS2 Ltd, Gatwick Airport Limited and currently at United Utilities Group, alongside non-executive directorships including at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
Erik has over 30 years of experience in various engineering and leadership roles, including 17 years at GE in R&D, product development, process improvement, technical sales, and business management. After GE, he spent 16 years as a member of the operations team at Global Infrastructure Partners, working on business improvement in a variety of infrastructure businesses in the energy and transportation sectors. He has been a director at the US charity Engineering Tomorrow since 2014. Erik is the author of 6 patents and numerous technical publications, and holds Chemical Engineering degrees from Cornell University (BS) and the University of Minnesota (PhD).
Constance Bellamy Chiplock began her career as a public school educator and has dedicated more than two decades to expanding opportunities for students, teachers, and school communities across Virginia and Washington, D.C., with a particular passion for supporting underserved communities.
Over the past decade, her work has focused on STEM education and workforce development, creating pathways that inspire young people to explore careers in engineering and technology. She led the nationally recognised Virginia Student Training and Refurbishment (VA STAR) programme, combining hands-on technology education with community service by refurbishing computers for individuals and organisations in need.
Earlier in her career, Constance worked in Washington, D.C., supporting education and science policy on Capitol Hill, where she contributed to initiatives that strengthened higher education and expanded investment in scientific research and university facilities. Today, she is passionate about connecting students with engineers, industry leaders, and real-world experiences that inspire the next generation of innovators.
Constance holds a Master of Education in Instructional Technology from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Mary Baldwin College.
