Back to school with J.E.E.P programme

ABM has launched year four of its Junior Engineering Engagement Programme (J.E.E.P.) following a year-long postponement caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The J.E.E.P aims to tackle misperceptions of the FM sector amongst young people and their parents and create a pipeline of future technical talent. It has had over 450 graduates from 23 schools since 2017.

Supported by independent education charity The Talent Foundry, the J.E.E.P. introduces year seven students, aged between 11 and 12, to the world of engineering and FM, bringing apprenticeships to their attention as a valid path to success before they choose their GCSE subjects. This year ABM UK will take the immersive programme to schools in London, Bradford, Leeds, and Birmingham, with sessions running from September to December.

ABM UK director, Adam Baker, said: “Having gained such fantastic momentum with the first three years of the programme, it was incredibly disappointing to have to postpone year four. With young people now back in schools, we can’t wait to welcome our newest cohort to the programme and continue the important work of inspiring the next generation of technical talent. The J.E.E.P. initiative works towards a future where the ‘oily rags and no prospects’ perception of FM technical careers and apprenticeships is a distant memory. In reality graduate apprentices are earning between £26,000 and £30,000 just a year after qualifying - usually before they’re 20 years old - and they have no debt.”

Cate Smith, head of programmes at the Talent Foundry, said: “The Talent Foundry is delighted to work with ABM on the Junior Engineering Engagement Programme. The programme provides young people with a valuable opportunity to open their eyes to the variety of STEM-based career paths available to them. It’s also helpful that this programme has a particular focus on apprenticeships as students need the chance to learn as much as they can about the different educational routes they can take before they leave secondary school.”

www.jeep-abm.org