Leeds City College inspires next generation of medical engineers

An interactive Medtech workshop for local school and college pupils was held at Leeds City College's Printworks Campus yesterday.

The event, called How to Engineer a Human, was run by the college in collaboration with Keighley College and local pioneering medical technology companies from across Yorkshire.

Designed to inspire the next generation of engineers at the Printworks - a £10m complex part-funded through the Leeds City Region Local Growth Deal - the daytime visit included hands-on workshops and engaging stands. The college then opened its doors to the public in the evening for a community event that welcomed budding medical engineers, parents and teachers.

How to Engineer a Human also included interactive demonstrations of the latest advanced technologies including 3D medical devices, post mortem products and wound management that highlighted how a career in engineering can be so much more than greasy overalls and hard hats.

Brandon Medical showcased operating theatre lighting, machined components and computer aided design demonstrations, while Xiros displayed animations of surgical procedures with interactive sessions where guests fixed orthopaedic staples into a bone model.

Attendees also got involved in the University of Leeds’ and DePuy Synthes Great Bones workshop, built a spinal fixation device and met Frank, the cycling skeleton.

Victoria Slater, STEM Director at Leeds City College, said:

“This event will give students and visitors a real insight into the innovative sector of medical technology.

“The Leeds City Region hosts 22% of UK digital health technology jobs so it’s important that we show young people the rewarding and life-changing career prospects of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects.

“We’re working with revolutionary medical companies such as DePuy Synthes (part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices Companies), Xiros and Medasil Surgical to bring to life this up-and-coming medical sector and stimulate others to play a key part in transforming the future of the healthcare industry.”

Roger Marsh OBE, Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, said:

“The Leeds City Region is world renowned as a pioneering centre of new healthcare technology. We have the largest concentration of medical device companies in the UK, almost 200,000 health and life sciences jobs and more than 15,000 young people graduating yearly in science, technology, engineering and maths.

“Leeds City College’s How to Engineer a Human event will help ensure this incredible success continues in the long term by inspiring the next generation of students and MedTech workers. I hope everyone who attended this event got to know a little bit more about a fascinating industry that is essential to the growth of our region and also enjoyed the world-class facilities on offer at the Printworks, part-funded by the LEP.”

Read more about How to Engineer a human online.