Caterpillar NI, Education | Business in the Community NI

Caterpillar Northern Ireland

Caterpillar Northern Ireland is Europe’s leading manufacturer of diesel generator sets and provider of power generating solutions. Its facilities provide design, testing, manufacturing and sales functions from locations in Larne, Monkstown and the Springvale Industrial Park in Belfast.

Background

In addition to major manufacturing operations, Caterpillar (NI) Limited is also home to a number of other regional business functions such as Sales and Marketing, Logistics, Finance, Legal Services and Shared Services.

What Caterpillar did

The STEM agenda (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) is a key focus for Caterpillar NI and it has partnered with several organisations to reach students at all stages of their education journey:

Primary School (age 4 – 11)

Volunteers work with primary schools to mentor teams in the ‘First Lego League’ – a global science and technology challenge for teams of students, to encourage an interest in real world issues and develop key skills.

Secondary Level (Age 11 – 18)

Caterpillar NI also works on First Lego League activities within the Secondary Level, both mentoring teams in several schools and participating on judging panels.

Caterpillar NI partners with the Arkwright Scholarships Trust, a prestigious scholarship scheme. Its goal is to identify, inspire and nurture future leaders in Engineering and Technical Design. The Scholarships, which are awarded to high-calibre year 12 students in NI, support students through A Levels to pursue Engineering or Technical Design at university, or through a higher-level apprenticeship, and to take up careers in the field.

Caterpillar NI runs a Work Experience Programme which gives students real-life experience through week-long placements.

The company also works closely with Northern Regional College’s Career Ready programme which aims to raise the aspirations of 16 to 19 year olds.

Third Level (Age 18+)

As well as paid short and long-term placements for university students, Caterpillar NI provides scholarships to Engineering Students at Queen’s University.

Impacts and Outcomes

  • Improving the talent pipeline by helping to raise awareness of the STEM agenda through events and partnerships
  • Raising aspirations and ambitions of young people through work placements – 20 short-term work placements per year together with an average of 10 year-long placements
  • In its work with NRC Career Ready, Caterpillar NI targets two students per year to participate in a work placement with the company

For more information, please email: JCASSIDY@cat.com