Investing in Emerging, Fresh Talent and Shaping the Next Generation of Engineers

Taking steps to nurture, recruit, mentor and embrace new, diverse and innovative ways of thinking. 

We’re growing globally, and with that comes the incredible opportunity, privilege and responsibility to support new talent and recruit across a range of skill sets and backgrounds. 

Which is why we’re continuing to invest in initiatives and partnerships that both champion diversity and inclusion, and enable us to benefit from fresh ways of thinking and others to access opportunities to learn and grow. 

Encouraging diversity in engineering addresses barriers that have historically deterred marginalised groups from pursuing STEM careers, which is a continued threat to the expansion and development of the industry. Which is why, for us, this effort goes beyond improving representation – it strengthens the talent pipeline, benefitting the entire industry.

Current disparities highlight the urgency of this mission. For example, women make up just 16.5% of the engineering workforce in the UK, despite comprising half of the national workforce. Similarly, only 9% of engineers come from ethnic minority backgrounds, although ethnic minority students account for 30% of engineering graduates. Moreover, socioeconomic challenges persist, with only 24% of the engineering workforce hailing from lower-income backgrounds. Meanwhile, nearly a third of LGBTQ+ youth avoid STEM careers due to fears of discrimination. 

We talked to our Head of People and Culture, Jason Man, about why it is crucial to address these gaps, in order to unlock pools of talent, close critical skills shortages and drive forward our development of a unique and pioneering role that will revolutionise the Route to Live. 

Taking a Fresh Approach to Talent Development

Jason explained – “It all starts with your recruitment processes. We are committed to breaking traditional recruitment moulds by removing unconscious bias and diversifying its talent search. Rather than focusing solely on specific skill sets and backgrounds, the company seeks to attract individuals with diverse experiences, bringing fresh perspectives and innovative problem-solving approaches to the Route to Live.”

He continued “We’ve widened our search for talent by ensuring we advertise our roles and opportunities on minority group pages, in specific forums and by partnering with other organisations who champion nurturing talent irrespective of background, or professional experiences and qualifications.” 

Leytonstone School Initiative

Recently, we invited secondary school students from a culturally and socio-economically diverse area of East London into their offices, and in doing so, we’ve offered practical exposure to engineering as a career. The students gained hands-on experience and immersed themselves in a lively office environment, helping them make informed career choices. ClearRoute supported the cohort with travel, food, mentorship, and open access to their engineers.

This immersive experience solidifies the value of on-the-ground learning, which is now becoming more commonplace across other industries. The continued rise in popularity of apprenticeship schemes available provides more rounded and realistic exposure to the demands, requirements and nuances of specific careers. While technical skills can be taught, building confidence, communication abilities, and a holistic approach to problem-solving requires nurturing. ClearRoute’s engineers, in turn, have found inspiration in mentoring young talent. Jason Man described the initiative as beneficial for both the students and our own team in London, saying  “It has taken our engineers right back to their roots, and given them the space to think about how they could in turn shape the careers of future engineers.”

“At ClearRoute, we are building a strategy to reach a wider pool of people, diversify our workforce, and in turn, benefit from the variety of approaches, experiences and attitudes that comes from that.  What you can’t determine through standard training and recruitment practices is a genuine hunger and drive.  That can’t be taught, but it can be missed if we don’t think outside the box when recruiting, training and inspiring new engineers.”

Expanding the Talent Pool with NorthCoders

ClearRoute’s dedication extends beyond young learners. By partnering with NorthCoders, we gain access to individuals, hungry to learn and with valuable, transferable skills from fields such as architecture and sound engineering.  By working closely with NorthCoders, we’ve been privileged to unlock an additional pool of talent and experience by working with individuals who can apply transferable skills, reinforced by exposures to different ways of thinking and different approaches to working. 

James Yueng, who has recently commenced his career at ClearRoute as a Quality Cloud Engineer, graduated from NorthCoders and said:

“As a NorthCoders graduate, I’ve had the privilege of meeting many talented individuals from diverse backgrounds, all united by a burning passion for learning during our coding bootcamp. It’s inspiring to see that alternative pathways into the tech industry are not only possible but can also empower those eager to make an impact in the industry without following the traditional route. This is why I was immediately drawn to ClearRoute’s partnership with NorthCoders – it perfectly aligns with its mission to revolutionise the Route to Live. By complementing the skill set of NorthCoders graduates and creating a bridge into the industry, I believe this partnership truly paves the way for a more inclusive future in tech.”

The development of the new QCE role, which is central to our value proposition, and sets us apart from the competition, will prove integral to the future at ClearRoute. Culture underpins everything we do—finding people with the right values, instilling those values early, and ensuring they are embodied across the business.”

Jason Man added, “Our strategy to recruit and develop talent with diverse backgrounds is crucial in unlocking creativity and stronger problem solving. Genuine drive and innovation cannot be taught, in the same way specific skills can—they must be sought out and then nurtured through thoughtful recruitment and training strategies.”

The Future is Bright 

Jason closed the conversation by explaining just how crucial the next few months and years will be in shaping both the future at ClearRoute, but the direction of the industry as a whole.

“We’re a relatively young business, and despite our global growth, will never underestimate the importance of the people that execute holistic and creative thinking. As our journey continues, we are looking forward to implementing schemes across our regions that enable us to continue to educate and support the next generation of engineers, irrespective of background.

“Welcoming and nurturing fresh talent from different backgrounds is a key, and arguably the biggest building block in our long-term vision of future-proofing our talent pool and continuing to push boundaries.”

If you’re interested in finding out about current opportunities at ClearRoute, you can head here. If you want to better understand how we streamline operations and transform the Route to Live for our clients, you can head here.