AFBE-UK 2018 Annual Report by AFBE-UK

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

CONTENTS Welcome

AFBE-UK London: what we’ve been up to in 2018

Plan for 2019

Welcome from the AFBE-UK Scotland Chair

AFBE-UK Scotland Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony 2018

AFBE-UK Success Stories Video

Events

Real Projects

Member’s news

WELCOME Welcome to our 2018 Newsletter. 2018 has been amazing for AFBE-UK. This newsletter details AFBE-UK’s achievements across the UK including London, Aberdeen and beyond. We would like to specifically thank AFBE-UK Scotland members for making this newsletter possible.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

AFBE-UK LONDON: WHAT WEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;VE BEEN UP TO IN 2018 Making Engineering Hot 2018 has been an excellent year for AFBE-UK as the organisation continues to grow and make remarkable achievements in championing diversity within and beyond the engineering sphere. We are excited to share the following highlights with you from London N ew Sponsors This year has seen top companies become organisational members and sponsors of AFBE-UK. These include, leading Engineering Consultancies, Mott Macdonald, WSP, Pall Corporation, Hyperion and Bloomberg, the institution of Engineering and Technology ( IET) and we would like to welcome our latest sponsor Balfour Beatty. AFBE-UK would like to welcome our new sponsors, we are excited to work with them on our programmes including Transition, Making Engineering Hot and Real Projects

AFBE-UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Making Engineering Hot! Campaign launched a new Mentoring Programme this year. Funded by BBC Children In Need and in association with 2018 Year of Engineering, the 3-year programme aims to engage with young people aged 12-18 years old in Southwark, Newham and Hackney. This programme has recently gained Level 1 sponsorship from the IET. In the last school year, over 40 school visits took place with 250 young people. This included week day engineering activities and weekend mentoring and employability skills sessions. The young people showed enthusiasm in our robotics project run by Dr Safia Barikzai of LSBU. Best performing students in mock interviews were awarded a 2-week paid work placement. Over 25 engineering professionals were trained as mentors and volunteered. We are currently recruiting volunteers and mentors to become a mentor email meh@afbe.org.uk.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Real Projects

MEH volunteers and participants

R oundtable Launched this year, Roundtable is a discussion forum serving as a “safe space” for engineers to discuss challenges. In March 2018, the first session tagged “overcoming cultural impediments in the workplace” saw professionals of varied levels and backgrounds of industry share life experiences and useful tips on how to overcome cultural experience in the workplace. The second was held in May 2018, themed “breaking the glass ceiling” and followed in the same success as the previous and the final took place in November on improving your circle of influence. For more details read the article on Round Table in this newsletter.

AFBE-UK’s forum for knowledge exchange between professionals and students on current relevant engineering topics which was conceived by AFBE-UK Scotland ran its first seminar held in March, on Safety and Assurance in the Engineering Industry with focus on the railway, oil and gas industries. This attracted a lot of professionals who left with enhanced insight on how safety is executed in these industries. In May, we explored big data and its increasing use in the world of Engineering which generated lots of engaging discussion points for the attendants and an opportunity to network too! You can read the article “BAME Entrepreneurs in Engineering” in this report for information on the last Real Projects in London which took place in December.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Transition Many talented graduates stumble at the first post because they do not have sufficient interviewing skills. Transition provides them with a safe environment where they can participate in mock interviews with senior engineers and managers. This year we have collaborated successfully with top institutions and companies including LSBU and Mott MacDonald, with some fantastic success stories and outcomes.: “Transition in London (a joint event by Mott Macdonald & WSP) took place in October 2018 and Transition at DMU, Leicester in November 2018. We hope to engage even more students and support them to securing employment. To volunteer or sponsor an event email us at transition@afbe.org.uk.

Below is an excerpt from a testimonial written by one of the students who attended the event “There’s some truth in the old saying that getting a job is about being in the right place at the right time. And in my story, this is the moment when I came across AFBE-UK. AFBE-UK gave me everything that I needed to be successful in securing a placement. I was very lucky to hear about Transition Event at Bloomberg. The workshop provided me with realistic lenses on what is required to be employed and to work in my chosen sector. Professional engineers checked my CV, conducted an individual mock interview and gave me an immediate feedback. There was also a group activity where the assessors identified my weaknesses and pointed the mistakes. Throughout the event I could network with professional engineers from various companies to broaden my knowledge about the industry and get the best advices. The Transition workshop boosted my self-confidence and gave me back the confidence that enabled me to land the internship of my dreams. The next day I received a constructive feedback on my performance which helped me to discover my strengths and weaknesses. The Transition events organised by AFBE prepared me for the Assessment Centre and provided me with numerous networking opportunities. Thanks to the support and guidance of my mentor and in general of AFBE-UK throughout all the process of job searches, job applications, CV and Cover Letter writing, I have secured a placement with PALL Corporation. I would recommend AFBE to any Student or Graduate who needs assistance with their placement or career opportunities, I’m glad I did! By Milena Rakszawska

There were speaking opportunities over the last year for us too numerous to mention. My personal highlights being the ICE inspiring change event in London and the Black Panther viewing at the Science Museum with Angela Saini, Yewande Akinola and Prof Maja Panti”

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

stakeholders such as AFBE-UK. We believe the only way to make a difference is by collaborating with others and we welcome the opportunity to work with other organizations. The success of AFBE-UK relies on enthusiasm and support of our members. There are two individuals I would like to commend from within AFBE-UK London the first is Demi Ademuyewo. Demi joined us in 2018 as our Media Manager.

PLAN FOR 2019 In 2019 in addition to focusing on inspiring the next generation we have an objective to grow our activities outside our key cities and will be exploring events outside London in locations including, Leicester, Birmingham and possibly Derby. So, watch this space! We firmly believe that the skills gap in the engineering industry can be progressed by increasing the representation of BME people in engineering and construction. These industries can tap into the creativity and talent available within the BME community. Our young people make up at least 23% of the engineering graduates and ethnic minorities in the UK is set to increase from the current 14% to 30% by 2050. The future of our industry must therefore be inclusive for all communities to thrive. Only then can we truly reap the benefits of diversity and inclusion through innovation. A first step will be through engaging

With Demiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support we have raised our profile through social media and been able to attract the support of key individuals and sponsors. On behalf of AFBE-UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board we are very grateful for the commitment she has shown and long may it continue. The second commendation this year goes to Reneth McKenzie-Schoetz who successfully spearheaded and led the Making Engineering Hot programme, no mean feat to accomplish given the limited time we had to achieve these goals. This year the AFBE Member of the Year award goes to Sarah Weihman of AFBE-UK Scotland. Congratulations on your Award. To find out more about Sarah read our Member of Year article in this newsletter. We are grateful to all our 2018 sponsors for making amazing happen. Institution of Engineering and Technology, Royal Academy of Engineering, Mott MacDonald, Bloomberg, WSP, Pall Corporation amongst others and our many supporters Regards, Dr Nike Folayan PhD MIET CEng Chair, AFBE-UK London

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

WELCOME FROM THE AFBE-UK SCOTLAND CHAIR We imagine that you must feel a little hopeful given the brighter outlook anticipated for the industry. With such prospects come increased activity and the demand for more engineers. For the last 7 years, AFBE-UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engineers have inspired young pupils and equipped students for smooth transitions into work, mentoring them using knowledge gained from real projects. Our agenda is not just social mobility but the promotion of diversity as an economic good. That this is our most successful year yet is down to four factors: Firstly, our membership is larger and more diverse than ever; anyone of any race or culture can join AFBE-UK. Secondly, our influence is burgeoning, epitomised by recognition from Developing the Youth Workforce (DyW) Scotland, our invitation to the Royal Military Tattoo as guests of the Governor of Edinburgh Castle and our visit to No. 10 Downing Street.

In January we shared the merits of our Transition programme at Holyrood events and in March addressed 220 teachers and educators at STEM Scotland 2018. We have made presentations to the Ministry of Defence and to the UK Government who seek collaboration on social initiatives. This year, Bloomberg, Pall Coorporation and WSP also became corporate members of AFBE-UK. Thirdly, our reach in Scotland is extending beyond Aberdeen. AFBE-UK will hold its first Scottish Transition event in Edinburgh in 2019 and support initiatives in Glasgow. Meanwhile we have hosted our largest audiences this year. Fourthly, AFBE-UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s support in Scotland is increasing; we want to thank our generous sponsors for showing their commitment to diversity.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

PLAN FOR 2019 We have hit the ground running in 2019 with a networking event and our first Seminar titled Modernisation and Transformation by Mopelola Lamond, a project manager in a leading Oil and Gas major. In her sell out seminar Mopelola discussed ways in her company is seeking adapt to the changes in the work environment brought about by technology; she also cited examples of once great businesses that are no more due to a failure to adapt. The feedback from the audience which was made up of professionals and students was very positive. This month more than 100 attendees will gain an insight into the opportunities in the energy industry through our Transition programme which will feature two great speakers. Lina Serpa, vice-president wells, North Sea for BP who will give a presentation on her experiences in the energy sector. She has more than 25 yearsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; front line and management expertise through working in a number of countries.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

In addition, motivational speaker, Dr Tharaka Gunarathne – who graduated from the University of Aberdeen Medical School – will give a talk on thinking big. Dr Tharaka is a consultant clinical psychiatrist and medical educator that advises those in business and education on how to maximise performance. AFBE-UK’s schools programme NextGen will begin in earnest in March and we plan to reach at least 10 schools (primary and secondary) in 2019. Additionally AFBE-UK’s burgeoning profile is reflected in the number of high profile events we are now being invited to speak at. The Talent Management Forum organised by Oil and Gas Vision and the We Mean Business event holding in March organised by the Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce to name a few. In 2018, AFBE-UK was invited to join the panel of judges for the prestigious Offshore Achievement Awards which will be presented on March 14th 2019. We are continuing to foster good working relationships with Scotland based stakeholders with a view to running more sustainable programmes here in Aberdeen.

Above all we look forward to generating more impact in 2019 especially among the less privileged. If you would like to participate in any of our programmes this year, please send us an email at info@afbescotland.org

Regards,

Dr Ollie Folayan CEng, FIChemE Chair, AFBE-UK Scotland #bepartofsomethinggreat

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

AFBE-UK SCOTLAND GALA DINNER AND AWARDS CEREMONY 2018

AFBE-UK Scotland now runs several programmes throughout the year, catering to school aged children, students and professionals and their impact continues to grow. In his welcome speech, Ollie remarked on the number of individuals who have been impacted by the work AFBE-UK Scotland does and the support from organisations to achieve this. He emphasised on the need for everyone to engage and “be part of something great”.

On the evening of Wednesday 21st November, 230 guests including engineering professionals, business leaders, STEM promoters, and students gathered at Double Tree by Hilton in Aberdeen to mark AFBE-UK Scotland’s 7th anniversary It was an inspiring evening marked with the celebration of diversity, talent and engineering AFBE-UK’s journey dates back to 2007 when siblings Dr Ollie Folayan and Dr Nike Folayan became inspired to tackle the issue of under-representation of BME engineers in industry, and to promote STEM subjects particularly to individuals from BME backgrounds. Starting off initially in London, AFBE-UK extended its activities to UK’s oil and gas hub 7 years ago with the help of Ollie and his team, following on the work its London arm was doing in engaging different communities to develop and showcase the engineering talent available within the BME community.

Dr Ollie Folayan during his address

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Oil and Gas UK Chief Executive Deidre Michie gave the keynote speech at this event themed â&#x20AC;&#x153;Energy Future of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x153;. She noted that it was a pleasure for Oil & Gas UK, one of the main supporters of the event to be part of the first AFBE-UK Scotland Awards. She highlighted that securing diversity in the workplace is a key focus for the sector and in realising industry shared ambition, Vision 2035.

Entertainment early in the evening included a recitation by Anuli Marshall and a performance by Aberdeen Bhangra Crew. Later, guests were treated to music by Nevis Ensemble, The Gentlemen of Jazz and DJ Mike Ife.

Entertainment by Nevs Ensemble Oil and Gas CEO, Deidre Michie during her key note address

Hosted by award-winning radio and TV presenter Lady Tolu, her delivery combined with the eclectic entertainment mix kept the atmosphere lively and guests engaged whilst they enjoyed a delicious three course meal.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

AFBE-UK Scotland also recognised individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the industry through their work, skills and talent. Recipients of the awards include: Special Appreciation Award Denis Pinto Company of the Year, sponsored by Oil & Gas UK Baker Hughes, a GE company (Highly Commended) Norwell Edge Shell UK (winner) Outstanding Mentor Award, sponsored by the Energy Institute Tayo Olusanya, principal technical safety engineer, Melios C laire Hayward, senior well delivery leader, BP (winner) D r Azzam Younes, principal safety consultant, ABB (Highly Commended) Young BME Professional Award, sponsored by SPE Aberdeen M opelola Oyetunji, corrosion engineer, CAN Offshore (Highly Commended) Lina Lusadisu, production technologist, Shell UK Samuel Elegbede, telecommunications engineer, WSP (winner) AFBE-UK Member of the year S arah Weihmann, University of Aberdeen

It was a great opportunity for the guests to find out more about the amazing work the organisation does, get involved, and network with other industry professionals â&#x20AC;&#x192;

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

AFBE-UK SUCCESS STORIES VIDEO

Watch somsteorofiesour success

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

EVENTS Gala 2018

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

NextGen

Transition

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Brexit, Engineering and Construction

Making Engineering Hot

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

REAL PROJECTS Real Projects is a lunch and learn â&#x20AC;&#x153;styleâ&#x20AC;? event conceived by AFBE-UK Scotland to foster knowledge exchange and encourage networking and collaboration between our student members and engineering professionals. Real Projects is now held in in London and Aberdeen

Lab on a Chip a Real Project in 2018

Dr Rotimi Alabi is founder and Managing Director of RAB-Microfluidics, delivering oil analysis 1000x faster and 10x cheaper than the standard industry approach. Rotimi holds a BSc in Microbiology (Igbinedion University Okada), an MSc in Environmental Management (Coventry University) and a PhD in Geology/Geochemistry (University of Aberdeen) where he investigated microfluidic technology.

Rotimi explaining his invention to an audience during a conference

The RAB-Microfluidics chip

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

A transition from academia to business

Conviction in our idea

In 2011, I began my PhD at the University of Aberdeen, in a subject area I knew next to nothing about. Microfluidic technology was at its infancy, the concept – making bigger things smaller - excited me. More so I was buoyed by the fact that I was researching into a concept that could potentially change the way chemistry protocols have existed for over hundreds of years. I came out of that journey in 2015 with a PhD in geochemistry, having built a device that could analyse petroleum fluid on a small glass microchip without the need for huge laboratory space. I thought to myself, there should be a wider application for this somewhere in the world. Discovering that there were many engineering problems that required onsite chemistry solutions, I founded RAB Microfluidics to address these problems. RAB Microfluidics diagnose early failure in machinery through real-time lubricating oil analysis, helping businesses increase equipment uptime.

One might think I was crazy to start RAB Microfluidics on nothing other than an idea and proof-of-concept science performed during my PhD. Who knows, maybe I was, but one thing was certain: I had a conviction that industrial businesses should be able to tell very early when their valuable machinery would breakdown if only, they had more regular oil analysis data. We had the technology to make this happen. This conviction is what drove us on the days we tried calling potential customers and they did not want to speak to us, or the days we got so close to winning certain competitions to grow the business but didn’t win.

Back against the wall I took the leap to found RAB-Microfluidics in August 2016 with my back against the wall. I had finished my PhD at the University of Aberdeen 10 months earlier and felt I had attained the summit of academic achievement; therefore, I should be the toast of all the companies that required specialised and seasoned intellect how wrong I was. For 10 months I struggled to get a job. Contrary to my idealistic thoughts, the fact that I required a work visa was not attractive to many recruiters.

Starting Small Today, RAB Microfluidics has raised £1 Mn in funding, we have grown from a team of two to six, we are working with companies like Siemens, Maersk, Rolls Royce and BP and we expect to generate revenue with our commercial product next year. The ambition in RAB Microfluidics is still very much unflinching, we want to change the way petroleum analysis is carried out and put a laboratory on every machinery in the world, but we have embraced it as it is part of our journey, our story. For us, every new day is an opportunity to meet the people that will join us and help shape our journey.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

BAME Entrepreneurs in Engineering a Real Project in 2018 Ayodeji Adepoju is a Chartered Civil Engineer and has been involved in the construction industry since 2000 with membership of both CIHT & ICE. His experience is predominantly in the design and construction delivery of transport infrastructures. Before starting Sands Engineering Consultancy in 2017, Ayodeji worked with three top 10 UK consultants, Capita, Mott Macdonald and Aecom working on major transport infrastructure schemes, public realm improvement projects and new development infrastructure projects. In addition to being a design consultant, Ayodeji is also the founder of Sands Digital Services a South African based company dedicated to the development of web-based applications. It created Sandcrowd.com a free UK crowdfunding platform to be launched in 2019 following a successful beta testing period in Q4,2018.

Last week I had an amazing opportunity to meet and listen to the fantastic Roni Savage & Ebenezer Adenmosun at the AFBE Real Projects event, both discussing how they started their successful engineering business in the UK construction industry. I started learning from the moment I met Roni at reception and my elevator pitch did a runner as all I could mumble in response to what I did for a living was â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ah design roads, drainage & stuffâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and at the end of the event on my way out to another event, Ebenezer reminded me to update my call schedule in order not to never miss a scheduled call or contact development opportunity. If you are thinking of starting your own engineering business, here are some practical tips from Roni & Ebenezer to help out at start up.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Taking the leap Ebenezer took the freelance route to transitioning into a service delivery consultancy while Roni had saved up and started from her home. While both had taken different start up routes, the challenges faced on the road to success is similar. Here are some of their tips towards taking that leap to starting and running your own engineering business T echnical knowledge, you need to be excellent at delivering the service(s) you intend to start with and if possible, have an industry reputation. A lternative source of income or savings is a necessity as its difficult to get business from day one A well thought out business plan is a must. F ocus and self-motivation are essential to getting up every day and going at it, day in day out as the hard work doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t stop U ndertake a SWOT Analysis Running with the Wolves If you have the technical skills, alternative source(s) of income, willingness to work hard and the drive to see things through, then you may be ready. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s quite easy to register a company and secure a domain name but getting that new business is a whole new ball game. At start up Roni & Ebenezer approached business development with these tips in mind: E veryone you meet is a potential client N o contact, no business hence Network, Network, Network!!

H aving a mentor is a must. Q uality & reliability are essential, produce excellent work always towards building a reputation and brand. R efine your services based on industry trends L ive outside the box B usiness administration While developing the business and undertaking project work do not forget to learn and improve on business administration activities. Its critical to success and growth of your company, ensure you: Have a robust financial plan R esearch clients and supply organisations K eep your books in order, pay your taxes and donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mess with HMRC. R einvest in the business and grow organically. I attended this event scrolling through Chrono24 trying to decide between an Omega Seamaster Diver 300 or a Breitling Navitimer 1461 but by the time I left I had settled on doubling my business development budget and a cheeky A|X. In January I start year 3 of Sands Engineering Consultancy and I totally agree with the tips and recommendations from both Roni & Ebenezer. #engineering #AFBE #entrepreneurship #civil engineering #BAME #business

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

The Future of Oil a Real Project in 2018

Dr. Chet Biliyok is a Chartered Engineer and Project Management Professional with fourteen years experience within the energy industry. Chet holds a MEng in Chemical Process Engineering (University College London) and a PhD in Engineering (Cranfield University’s School of Engineering), where he has continued to co-supervise PhD students as a Visiting Lecturer. The OPEC-Led production cuts, initiated in December 2016, have largely succeeded in eliminating the oil supply glut that depressed the market since late 2014. US Shale/tight oil producers have taken advantage of higher prices to ramp up production, with US production now at a 50-year high. With global demand increasing by 1MM+ bbl/day annually, inventory levels are now falling, and projects are being greenlit as a recovery gets underway. Barring a major supply disruption or a geopolitical event, oil prices will hover between $60 – 75/bbl as OPEC-let cuts, increasing shale production and falling global inventories duke it out in the short-term.

In the long-term, climate change poses a massive challenge to the industry. Climate change risks are now being priced in investments, with the World Bank announcing that it will not finance upstream oil and gas projects after 2019, and banks like ING & BNP Paribas making similar statements. Importantly, the cost of renewables – solar & wind – continue to fall and are now competitive to fossil fuels, challenging the dominance of oil in transport through the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) (graph). Thus, oil will be valued more as a chemical feedstock, though the problem of plastics in oceans points to more challenges down the line. In the medium-term, EVs are expected to achieve cost parity with internal combustion engines by 2025, with 200+ long range models available in the market within 5 years. China and India, nations that accounted for most of the oil demand growth over the past three years, have set ambitious EV deployment targets to address choking air pollution in their cities, which invalidates current oil demand forecasts. Still, many expect a supply shortfall to arrive in 2020/2021, due to three years of underinvestment in global production. However, EVs, efficiency gains from tighter fuel standards, fuel switching (LNG and biofuels) and technological disruptions (like self-driving vehicles and ride-sharing) will combine to cause oil demand to peak before 2030, leaving a market dominated by low cost producers in Middle-East.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Oil majors like Shell and Total have made shrewd moves investing in utilities and diversifying into renewables. Amid change lie enormous opportunities: E nergy storage for intermittent renewables I ndustrial CCS and B iotechnology (alternative route for chemical feedstocks) For individuals, transferable technical skills should be nurtured, along with soft/project skills. Acquiring data analytics skills that help squeeze productivity out of existing oil fields will also be an advantage.

Annual global electric vehicle sales are forecast to hit 24.4 million by 2030

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Competitive Interview Preparation a Real Project in 2018 Charles Adoga has over a decade of petroleum and reservoir engineering responsibilities across different multinational companies. Charles holds a BEng in Petroleum engineering (University of Port Harcourt) and a MSc in Reservoir evaluation and management (Heriot Watt University) and is a member of AFBE-UK. Uchenna (Uche) Onyla is an active AFBE-UK Scotland member and engineering professional with seven years experience in the oil and gas and manufacturing sectors. He holds a MEng in Subsea Engineering (University of Aberdeen) and Petroleum Engineering (Heriot Watt University) and a BEng in Chemical Engineering (University of Lagos).

An interview is a formal meeting to test a candidate’s suitability for a job. Success is guaranteed when you: Are sufficiently prepared. Understand the dynamics of interviewing. A popular saying “practice makes perfect” is apt here. Adequate preparation eliminates the fear of unknown.

To generate a job offer sometimes entails attending several rounds of interviews. Maintain a highly positive attitude. Your attitude determines whether you will make it or not. It is popularly said that “Attitude is Everything”. Your attitude is often what recruiters will remember after reviewing several candidates. The most valuable member of any team is the person who has the “can do” attitude, the person who can be counted on in any situation, the person who truly strives for excellence. You can show your winning attitude in the way you present yourself. Use the actual words “positive attitude,” “excellence,” and “striving to be my best” into your interview language. Uche says, “Before I got my first job, I sent out over 400 applications. For every 20 applications, you will get one interview. This will change as you get more experience in your industry but you must always persevere and push yourself. No one will do it for you”. Have sufficiently practiced commonly asked interview questions. Some questions may seem rather simple on the surface such as “Tell me about yourself“, but these questions can have a variety of answers. Once you have become practiced in answering commonly asked interview questions, you will find that you can use almost any question as a launching ground for a compelling story. Further points regarding interview success including dressing style and non-verbal factors should be considered well ahead of an actual interview to gain familiarity and build dexterity in the art of interviewing.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

https://collegegrad.com/interview is recommended for further useful material on preparing for Interviews. Have a good CV On Cvs, consider sending your CV with a cover letter directly to company that you are interested in, outlining what you can uniquely offer as an employee. When writing an application, keep in mind that there are several other applicants, so your CV must stand! Make sure you express yourself concisely, but highlight how your skills and experiences match those required for the role. It is important that there are no grammatical errors in your application; most recruiters are not very forgiving, especially when they have many other applications to review. When applying in response to an advert, read it carefully and tailor your application to suit the requirements of the vacancy. Recruiters often use keywords to filter applications, and if your application, no matter how good, doesn’t contain those keywords, it may not make it past the first screening process. Ensure that the activities shown on your CV demonstrate the competencies that are required for the position, as stated in the job advert.

Have a good support network “Being part of a professional institution or a network such as AFBE-UK can be of immense benefit to your career, even early on”, Uche says. “These groups, through their events and activities, provide you with the opportunity to meet professionals in your industry. Personally, the AFBE has enabled me to develop cordial and personal relationships with senior colleagues in the industry who give me sound career advice and help me to set development goals”. Good luck with your job search!

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

AND THE AFBE-UK 2018 MEMBER OF THE YEAR AWARD GOES TO… Sarah Weihmann We met Phd student, Sarah Weihmann at the last NextGen visit of 2017; it was a visit to Kincorth Academy, AFBE-UK Scotland’s first foray into reaching secondary schools.

Sarah who was already passionate about spreading STEM to girls participated and then started attending AFBE-UK Scotland’s programmes subsequently becoming a member.

Over the course of 2018 Sarah demonstrated unique commitment to AFBE-UK’s goals. An active member of the NextGen, Transition and Real Projects teams, Sarah is typically the first to dial into any conference call and was a very active performer in them. As member of the Gala planning committee in 2018, Sarah volunteered to be chief editor of the AFBE-UK magazine, a task in which she excelled. As leader of this team of writers Sarah demonstrated a creative flair, attention to detail and leadership, ensuring all tasks were performed within schedule and to a very high standard; the magazine was celebrated by many as one of our best. Sarah is an enthusiastic team player who is well liked by all members of the team and brings real verve into all of the roles that she plays I am therefore delighted to congratulate Sarah Weihmann on her accolade as ‘Member of the Year 2018’.- -Dr Olllie Folayan

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Tell us about yourself background, education, career? I am a well-rounded Geoscientist, holding a degree in geography (BSc), applied geosciences (MSc) and soon to be geology/geomechanics (PhD) with work experience in the energy sector.

PHD LIFE BETWEEN BOOKS AND BABIES

What inspired you to become an engineer/scientist? I love venturing out for unconquered soil and STEM seemed the right path for me as a woman. What lessons have you learnt in your career? Don’t give up, stay persistent and you will achieve what you aspire. What do you like most about being a member of AFBE-UK? I am really into encouraging girls to go into science and trust their talents and I dream of a balanced gender diversity in the scientific workforce and at management level. Hence, I feel I can make this dream come a little more true by going out on NextGen adventures with AFBE-UK Scotland. What advice would you give to a young person starting out in the STEM industry? Trust your talents, stay curious, stay strong, don’t accept no’s, find yourself mentors, be sociable and charitable.

Adamu Ibrahim is member of AFBE since 2018 and involved with the Gala dinner organisation and project NextGen. His wife has given birth to a girl recently while Adamu continues to pursue a PhD in Petroleum engineering at University of Aberdeen. As a newlywed studying for my doctorate in Petroleum Engineering, I had often imagined how different life was going to be when we eventually start expanding our family. I had so many ideas about how to juggle my schedule and balance my time between the wife, baby (or babies, in case) and studying. When the joyful news that we were expecting came, I was overjoyed, anxious and a little worried. I would wake up late at night, wondering, planning and imagining how the next couple of months and years would be. I knew I wanted to be a hands on and involved parent.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

I have always dreamed of being my childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best friend. On the 13th of January 2018, after a long and exhausting 8-hour labour, my first baby, the cutest little human was born. Aysha Aslama came into the world amid very happy tears. I felt my heart widen and my life completely change. When we got home, I quickly realized the difference between my months of imagination and reality. I got busy trying to practically learn everything I could about taking care of a baby and helping my wife any way I could. I became a pro at changing diapers and my singing voice didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t sound as screechy as I used to think. I learned how to swaddle and rock her after giving her a bath. Slowly, the nights became shorter and more exhausting. Sleep became elusive. I knew I had to find a balance between my work and home balance. And I did. I shortened the hours at work to enable me be home more and help out with either the chores or the baby so the Mummy could also rest. Finding a rhythm and sticking to it became very important in my quest to get things done and at the right time. I found out that I was able to keep up with work and handle the family responsibilities as the days went on. I had subconsciously struck a balance and my life felt fuller, happier and less stressful. The new schedule fit everything in and on rare occasions I could even get some quiet hours

It was a process no book could prepare me for. It was so step-bystep that I was able to take it all in stride. I work with a bigger purpose now. Aslama has propelled me to be a more hardworking man, teacher, husband and all-round human being. Having her in our lives while on this academic journey makes it so worthwhile. Would I do it again? Totally (a little later though).

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

THE EMERGENCY RESCUE: USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TO SAVE LIVES Ahmad Aliyu Usman has successfully completed a PhD in Computer Engineering (University of Aberdeen) and holds a MSc in Software Development (Coventry University) and a BSc in Software Engineering (University of East London). Aliyu moved to Leeds to take up an artificial intelligence position.

Artificial intelligence is more than robotics (Getty images) Technological devices and applications are used for many lifestyle conveniences, from personal smartphones and home appliances to businesses and health care services. Artificial Intelligence (AI) provides machines with the ability to learn by digesting huge data sets to find patterns and arrive at powerful insights. Artificial intelligence in everybodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lives Some AI applications that are commonly used in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s changing environment includes:

Aliyu presenting at a data analysis and data mining conference

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Recommender Systems - think Netflix:

How AI Applications are saving lives

If you’ve ever used Netflix, Amazon or eBay, then you’ve witnessed recommender systems in action. These sophisticated functions make use of customer behavioural data to detect patterns and gain an understanding of what customers are likely to be interested in and make recommendations accordingly. These systems use various approaches to identify patterns and trends in customer’s behaviour, such as what customers have viewed or purchased in the past, based on similar items or according to the user’s personal profile like location, gender, age etc. Better understanding of customer needs for improved service provision and customer experience is their aim.

Abnormally Detection -

Smart Personal Assistants - think Siri: Smart personal assistants have become very common and reliable for basic conversations. These applications are mostly incorporated into personal devices (such as Siri for Apple devices and Google Assistant), Smart TVs and speakers. These applications work as an intelligent knowledge guide to execute basic instructions such as making phone calls, sending a text message, playing and controlling music, setting up alarm, answering questions (by searching on the internet), or ordering items online. These applications are AI-powered which accepts voice commands through the voice-to-text component, which automatically transforms the voice instructions into text by learning from the user’s language.

heart attack prevention: Kevin Pearson’s life might have been saved by his smartwatch. An abnormal heartbeat rate alarm on his smartwatches made him visit hospital where he was immediately fitted with heart rate monitors and timely medical attention which saved his life. Without his smartwatch, Kevin said he would have never been aware that anything at all was wrong as he felt absolutely all right. Speech to text - allowing people with hearing disabilities make phone calls: The UK’s British Telecom’s provides the Next generation Text Service (NGTS) that helps the hearing impaired. By combining a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a phone call, the user can communicate via multiple ways combined. The back-end application for this service uses AI’s automated speech-to-text algorithm to convert speech to text during calls for a faster response by the relay assistant especially in cases of emergency calls. Recent AI applications such as the Google assistant aims to fully automate this process.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

NEXTGEN The NextGen event aims to create a positive perception of engineering among young people by presenting it in an exciting, vibrant and informative way. Our focus is to promote engineering to young people in primary and secondary schools within underrepresented communities in Scotland. Mariah Ichakpa studies Mechanical and Offshore engineering at Robert Gordon University. She has been a member with AFBE-UK since 2017 and is involved with the Gala Event organisation and NextGen. The latter has led to an industry placement. t the start of this year One of the major projects I have participated in is reaching out to primary schools in Aberdeen to speak to kids about Engineering as well as demonstrate some Engineering processes and give an insight on what Engineers do. This has definitely sparked up a passion for Engineering in most of the kids as they are usually curious and very interested to learn about Engineering. In addition, positive feedback has been received from this project and it has definitely motivated me to do more to inspire future Engineers. Through this experience, I had the opportunity to explain the operation of an internal combustion engine to some of the kids.

Working principle of an Internal combustion Engine An internal combustion engine is a heat engine found in vehicles such as cars. The engine works in four stages first, a valve opens and the piston lowers letting a mixture of fuel and air into the combustion chamber. Second, as it comes up the piston compresses the fuel-air mixture. Third, a spark from the spark plug ignites the mixture which pushes the piston down again. Fourth, the exhaust valve opens and as it comes up the piston pushes the spent gases out and the cycle starts over again. In summary, the 4 major processes that occur in an internal combustion engine are exhaust, intake, compression and combustion. The movement of the engine is then transmitted to the wheels of vehicles. Internal combustion engine is a heat engine found in vehicles

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

During one of the recent interviews I had, I was fortunate to find the same internal combustion engine I had previously demonstrated to some of the kids in the company I was being interviewed. I seized the opportunity to explain the working principle of the internal combustion engine during the interview, this impressed the interviewers and they were keen about the way I had demonstrated the operations of the combustion engine. This landed me an internship with the company and has motivated me to inspire young kids and future Engineers.

Construction of vessels, helicopters and platforms by local pupils as part of the NextGen competition (all above)

Spot-and-name exercise with pupils and teachers at NextGen

Successfully constructed oil processing platform from paper and tape at NextGen (both above)

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

MAKING ENGINEERING HOT Inspire the next generation through mentoring The second year of the Making Engineering Hot Mentoring programme started in November 2018. Sponsored by BBC Children in Need, MEH continues to raise the aspirations of young people aged 12-18 yrs in Southwark, Newham and Hackney. Reneth McKenzie-Schoetz (MPhil, MSc, BEng) is a Mechanical Design Engineer. She is AFBE-UK’s schools programmes outreach Manager. Reneth is also responsible for quality control and planning to ensure projects are delivered to time and are of high quality. In her spare time, Reneth enjoys running ad yoga, tending her allotment where she grows fruits and vegetables and sleeping after a long work week. Weekday workshops include: “A Day in the Life of an Engineer”, engineers share their personal story. “Engineering Careers” introduces the various engineering sectors and routes into engineering.

Our employability workshops include CV writing and mock interviews, this year Dr Safia Barikzai will host the Robotics Project at LSBU. Our mentoring sessions which begins in January, will be held once monthly over six months. Mentors will act as positive role models to young people building trust and helping them to set SMART goals with measurable results. The mentoring group project involves the assembly, design, cost for manufacture and marketing of a sound to light sensor. The most successful groups will present their concept in our Careers Day at the end of the year. In April, MEH will host a family evening for our participating schools. Our guest speaker will be Robin Walker a published author, will show how BAME people contributed to science and engineering. Finally, our Careers Day will bring young people together with professionals and industry. We are urgently looking for 45 mentors to join our weekend sessions. Mentors will be DBS checked and be required to attend a mentor training session. If you would like to be part our programme as a mentor please contact us at meh@afbe.org.uk or look out on social media for upcoming training days.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

TRANSITION Transition is a career workshop designed to equip students and recent graduates with the skills required to scale through the employment process at the most sought after companies. This event includes a CV review session, a mock interview session and an assessment centre. Philip Enegela has worked in Corrosion Engineering and Research since over a decade. Philip holds a BEng in Metallurgical engineering (Ahmadu Bello University), MSc in Corrosion control engineering and PhD in Corrosion and materials (both University of Manchester). Transition – Preparing for the world of work

It therefore is an uphill task for young graduates to carefully articulate their experience and competencies into a compelling story, and demonstrate transferable skills which show they are workplace-ready. AFBE’s experienced team of professionals has run the “Transition” programme over the last 4 years to help prepare such candidates for the world of work. The format of the programme has evolved over time, and it now mirrors recruitment events run by some of the UK’s top employers (which include large, multinational companies). Two versions of the event are currently run – one replicating a “campus recruitment” exercise, and the other being a more “formal” process at a corporate venue with top of the range facilities and catering. A typical Transition event incorporates a keynote speech from a top-ranking industry professional, usually in senior managerial / C-level individuals who share stories about their career journeys, not only on how they fared at similar assessments during their job search, but on how to progress and develop professionally after receiving a job offer. These stories reassure the candidates and provide much needed motivation to continue the job hunt.

“How do I get my foot in the door?” is perhaps the first question most students and young graduates have on their minds. Although unembellished, this is one of the more difficult questions on job hunting to answer, as there is no specific route one should take to land a role in the current climate. Highly capable and exceptional candidates with immense potential remain unemployed, as today’s job market has become extremely competitive, with some employers seeking experienced individuals or “known quantities” – previous interns – to fill positions. Cross section of participants during a recruitment interview session

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

Transition kicks off with a sign-up process, which is akin to applying for a job. As part of their expression of interest to enrol on the programme, candidates are required to submit CV’s ahead of the event – these are thoroughly reviewed by experienced professionals who volunteer to assess the candidates. At the event, candidates are given an introduction into interview techniques and approaches to answering questions, after which they have an interview with a panel of 2 – 3 professionals who have reviewed the CV’s.

This is the heart of the event, as studies have shown that panel interviews significantly increase the difficulty level of a recruitment process. Feedback is provided to candidates individually regarding their performance at the scenario-based interviews and the quality of the CV’s submitted. Assessors also provide suggestions regarding improvements to be made, particularly if evidence of skills / experience provided during the interview were not adequately reflected in a candidate’s CV. Tips on non-verbal communication, answering questions and demonstration of competencies are also provided to each candidate at the end of the interview.

Interview session The second half of the event encompasses an “Assessment Centre” in which candidates work in teams to solve a set of problems by drawing on their skills and understanding of the issues presented. Assessors are assigned to groups of candidates whom they had interviewed, to permit continuity of evaluation. The candidates are assessed based on a set of attributes (such as teamwork, critical thinking and analysis, communicating and influencing, and time-keeping) which should be displayed when working in a team. Again, feedback is provided to the individual teams regarding their strengths and areas for improvement. Transition has proven to be very beneficial, not only to the candidates but to the assessors, who sometimes find they are immersed in a “refresher course” for their own next level progressions! Having helped over 1000 students and young graduates over the last 4 years in Aberdeen and London, Transition is AFBE’s flagship programme – it enjoys collaborations with several industry partners. On average, 50% of candidates who have had the Transition experience have secured jobs within 6 months – a success rate which is on the rise.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

ROUND TABLE Roundtable was launched this year in order to provide an opportunity for engineering professionals and interns to talk about real day to day issues they experience in the workplace in a safe space. Madeleine Osei-Baffoe is a Safety Engineer providing safety solutions for clients in various industries. She is currently seconded full time as an Assistant Safety Manager for Crossrail.

Madeleine is an associate member of the IChemE (AMIChemE) She has an MEng in Chemical Engineering with Management (MEng) at Loughborough University. Madeleine was the Round Table lead in 2018. The first session held in March 2018 was an insightful discussion held in two groups with different backgrounds. The session looked at “overcoming cultural impediments in the workplace” and it was intriguing to see how even people with similar ethnicities i.e Black African, Black Caribbean and South East Asian brought their different cultures into the workplace. I found from hearing the conversations that upbringing was a big factor when looking at both cultural impediments and benefits.

Feedback from the session showed that participants enjoyed this conversation and were as interested as I was in hearing other people’s cultural backgrounds and what aspects of their culture benefitted them in the workplace. Main take home message was do not necessarily change who you are but do be mindful of what you think is normal and what others think is normal. The second discussion was held in May 2018 and involved professionals in different career levels exploring the theme “breaking the glass ceiling”. It was interesting to hear others share how they had moved through their career and their different approaches when asking for a promotion or more money. Everyone took something out of this session and notepads and pens were out with people taking notes of others ideas. I reckon there’ll be plenty of pay rises and promotions soon due to this session. The final Roundtable took place in November 2018 discussing “improving your circle of influence”. This session looked at various experiences of networking and socialising both in the workplace and out. It was inspiring and amusing to hear what has worked for people in the past and many participants including myself took away networking goals for the future. Everyone left the session a lot more confident in approaching people, however not entirely sure we reached a consensus on whether we should go to the pub every day.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

AFBE-UK AT 10 DOWNING STREET Tolulope Osobu is a Plant Support Engineer at Johnson Matthey, an associate member of the IChemE (AMIChemE) and a member of the Energy Institute. Tolu studied Chemical Engineering (MEng) at the University of Surrey and worked at Pall Corporation prior to working in her current role. Tolu is a member of AFBE-UK and serves as Comms Manager for AFBE-UK London. Members of AFBE-UK in England and Scotland had the privilege of visiting 10 Downing Street last Friday (6th of November 2018) for a meeting with Nero Ughwujabo, the Special Adviser to the Prime Minister on social justice, young people and opportunities It was an opportunity for AFBE-UK to present the work it does in the community. Particularly in attracting, retaining and promoting role models within the engineering industry. Issues which are of priority to both parties were discussed; including racial disparity, the importance of engaging diverse talent in industry, lack of funding and opportunities to young people from deprived areas of community etc. AFBE-UK showcased its activities in targeting young people at every stage of their education, from primary school up to University and beyond. Some of the members in attendance, who are products of the success of these programs also shared their story.

The work AFBE-UK does in attracting school aged children through programs such as NextGen in Scotland and MEH! in London were highlights for Nero who noted the organisation’s unique position in its approach on inspiring the younger generation. Ollie Folayan AFBE-UK Scotland Chairman said: “We’re delighted to have been given the opportunity to raise a number of things and put forward possible solutions at the very centre of government. In recent times, progress has been made but there is still much to be done, such as highlighting to business the opportunity to fill the skills gap in the science, technology engineering and mathematics arenas. We thank Nero for his time and we look forward to the potential of positive outcomes as we follow up dialogue.” Dr Nike Folayan said, “It was a memorable meeting as AFBE-UK was able to showcase the work AFBE-UK does in attracting, retaining and promoting role models in the engineering industry and proffer solutions that could help the government tackle the disparities in opportunities and progression experienced by BME individuals in education and industry”.

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

MEMBER’S NEWS

Professor Clement Folayan In December 2018 we lost Professor Clement Folayan, the father and inspiration of our founding members, Dr Ollie Folayan and Dr Nike Folayan.

New Jobs Jide Okwujiako, Safety Engineer Joined EniProgetti as Process Safety Consultant 2018 Obi Onugha, Network Consultant Joined Accenture as Network Technology Consultant 2018 Emma Opara, Commercial Lawyer Joined Abbeycourt Energy Services as Head of Legal and Compliance 2018 Ikram Hamud Joined Atkins as Assistant Engineer 2018 Family Ify Anyaegbu Drilling Engineer Gave birth to her daughter Nuella Chio Chukwurah 13 September 2018 Adamu Ibrahim Chemical Engineer Adamu’s wife gave birth to their daughter Aysha 13 January 2018 Demi Ademuyewo Gave birth to her son on 2nd January 2019

Education Ibrahim Shodeko, Graduate Engineer BEng Mechanical and Electrical Engineering (first class) - University of Aberdeen June 2018 Uche Nnamani Managing Director, ED&P Solutions Ltd MBA - Aberdeen Business School 2018 Professional Qualifications Edwin Ekpiri, Lead Reservoir Engineer TAQA Obtained Full membership and Chartership with the Energy Institute 2018 Chukwudi Okenwa, Production Engineer Obtained Full membership and Chartership with the Energy Institute 2018 Ollie Folayan Principal Process Engineer Was accepted into the Fellowship of the Institution of Chemical Engineers 2018

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

GETTING INVOLVED There are many ways in which you can get involved and support us. You can support us through membership and donations. We also welcome contributions through provision of venues and collaboration on our programmes. Get in touch with us at info@afbe. org.uk to find out more. Annual Subscription fees are ÂŁ30 for full time professionals and ÂŁ10 for students. Corporate membership of AFBE-UK is also open to all engineering and non- engineering organisations.

For Organisations Brand recognition

Recognised by Government and institutions working in the diversity in engineering space, your brand will become more visible to diverse community groups as one that recognises the importance of engagement

Develop your staff:

Present an exciting opportunity for your staff to develop communication skills to non-typical audiences and work towards professional competencies. If applicable your staff could develop competencies towards chartership.

Brand recognition Use of our Recruitment platform and search through our CV database:

Advertise all jobs on our website and with direct targeted emails to our database.

Adding value

Stimulating and rewarding fresh challenge for your staff members as well as a sense of pride when they volunteer with AFBE-UK.

Meeting your targets sustainability targets

New insight into ways of working within the community while meeting your sustainability targets with case studies.

Community Engagement:

be publicly recognised for your skills and expertise in engaging the diverse communities where your offices are located

AFBE-UK 2018 ANNUAL REPORT & NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2019

For individuals Mentoring

You can be assigned to an industry mentor or become a mentor to others

Volunteering

With Programmes like MEH and Transition, there are plenty of opportunities to help engage and inspire the next generation of engineers. In turn, you get to develop your CPD which contributes to attaining chartership status for engineering professionals

Networking

We have several seminars and networking opportunities where we bring people from within our industry together

Connections

We hold two advisory board meetings per year, these present opportunities to meet high profile engineers and industry leaders in addition to our networking events.

Meeting your personal goals and ambitions

Be exposed to industry insights in a safe space where you can share your challenges and get supports and advice

Community Engagement:

Be publicly recognised for your skills in inspiring others

For further information, visit the website at www.afbe.org.uk or e-mail info@afbe.org.uk Social media - Follow our updates via LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook!

ABOUT US AFBE-UK (Association for BME Engineers) is a registered not-for-profit organisation that aims to challenge and inspire people of black and minority ethnic (BME) origin to make enhanced contributions in their respective fields, and also to add value to the community, using engineering as a platform. AFBE-UK was founded in 2007 in London as a network of engineers who enjoy what they do and seek to engage the industry and make a positive contribution to the community. These goals are achieved through our conferences and our mentoring programs. AFBE also aims to contribute to discussions on sustainable development in Third World Countries. We currently have three chapters: One in London, another in the Midlands and the Scottish arm currently based in Aberdeen. To find out more about AFBE-UK and the work we do visit our websites; www.afbe.org.uk and www.afbescotland.org for activities in Scotland visit