Marvel superheroes gathered at The Excel to launch a partnership with the government’s Year of Engineering campaign.
Joining them were the minister of the campaign Nusrat Ghani and 30 children from Berger Primary school in Hackney. Real-life engineering superheroes such as a female army engineer and weight-lifter, and an expert in comic book technology also attended.
At the event children took the ‘More Heroes Needed Aptitude Test’ which outlined the superhero qualities they share with characters such as The Incredible Hulk and Iron Man. It also told them how these skills could help them be successful in engineering.
Aside from the launch, the test is also being promoted via paid social, influencer content and direct communications to schools.
The overall aim of the government campaign is to promote engineering as a desirable career path for the next generation. The campaign which began in 2018 has already increased the number of 7-11 year olds that would consider engineering by 36%.
Nusrat Ghani, minister for the Year of Engineering, said she was certain the collaboration with Marvel would encourage young people to assess their own abilities as an engineer.
“The characters who inhabit the Marvel universe are famed for achieving amazing things against all odds; something engineers do on a daily basis.”
Emma Taylor, business director at 23red – the agency behind the campaign, also commented: “The Year of Engineering is all about showing young people that no matter where their strengths lie, engineering could be the path for them, providing them with an interesting and varied career. The Marvel franchise is the perfect partner for this, with the characters capturing the imaginations of those young and old, and highlighting the different ways everyone can change the world.
Similarly, last year Shell launched a social campaign to tackle the gender inequality in graduates entering the engineering industry.
