b'32 Partner News Summer 2020CorporateThe trainees powering aheadSeven trainee engineers at UK PowerTrainee engineer, Lauren Chappell, 37, Networks are learning the ropes in crucialfrom Mottingham, south east London, said: infrastructure roles that help keep theWhen I was an apprentice only a handful lights on across more than a quarter ofof women were working on the tools in Britain. The group of engineers include twoLondon but now there are a lot more of us. women, who urge more women to consider satisfying careers in electrical engineering,Things are changing. I would encourage running the networks that power homesmore women to go straight out on the and businesses. tools, rather than going into office work, because its great experience. Looking at Over the next two and a half years,maps on a computer is very different to those on the Engineering DevelopmentUK Power Networks Engineering Development Programmeputting cables into the ground and you Programme will train to become fullytrainees from left, Ashley Butcher, Jack Routledge, Russelllearn so many new skills.qualified field engineers, supervising fieldTaylor, Martin Steele, Lauren Chappell, Rachael Dean and staff and contractors working on the highRobert Maxted. Emma Barbour-Johnston, Engineering voltage electricity network. Development Programme team leader, said: I will become whats known as a seniorWe are very excited to have our newest Rachael Dean, 32, from Welwyn Gardenauthorised person. My role will includecohort of trainee engineers on board at City, said: Gender isnt relevant. I dontcoordinating the cable jointers, dig teamssuch an exciting time in the industry. We know why more women dont considerand switching on the network to isolatelook forward to seeing their progress pursuing a career in electrical engineering.equipment. The engineers put everything inand successes as they complete their I need to get out there more often with aplace for the job to be done safely and ondevelopment programme.megaphone! schedule to keep the customer happy.Boeing:technology. Leveraging the power ofyear. They each received a 100,000 the worlds biggest aerospace company,investment from Boeing HorizonX Global HorizonX leads the way in innovation byVentures to develop their proposals. The Leading theworking with companies of all sizes, helpingprogramme provides the start-ups with them turn their big ideas into reality, andbenefits to help them grow their ideas and in-turn benefiting the aerospace industry.companies, including first-hand access way in UKBy identifying and supporting start-upsto strategists and technical experts. that are developing revolutionary conceptsFrom investing in companies focused around the world, HorizonX utiliseson space and connectivity, industry 4.0 innovationBoeings global network of resources toand digital acceleration technologies, introduce new capabilities and launchto companies that are creating emerging and disruptive markets. future mobility solutions, HorizonX is committed to exploring whats Theres more innovation underwayFormed in 2017, HorizonX has sopossible for the future of aerospace. today at Boeing than at any time infar publicly invested in 23 different its 103-year history. Across the globe,companies globally, helping businesses Boeing spends more than 2.5b annuallywith cutting-edge ideas in the aerospace in research and development, drivingand defence sectors develop their innovation and transforming aerospacetechnology and business models. and defence to help solve the real- UK startups, Reaction Engines and world problems we face today.Isotropic Systems, are both part of the HorizonX Global Ventures portfolio.This is embodied by the companys innovation arm, HorizonX. BoeingLast year, Boeing launched a technology HorizonX discovers, shapes andaccelerator in the UK, in partnership accelerates whats on the horizon ofwith the Aerospace Technology Institute aerospace industry. One of the ways they(ATI), aimed at boosting innovationNadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at do this, is by supporting new ideas fromin the grassroots aerospace industry.the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, businesses that are at the forefront ofTen start-ups were chosen to spendopened Boeing HorizonXs startup accelerator in January 2020 by visiting its offices and meeting the first ten startups developing game-changing aerospacethree months in London beginning thischosen to receive investment.'