AN ENGINEERING company has rewarded the ‘impressive entrepreneurial spirit’ of young people by creating new job roles.

Sam Moore, 20, and Charlie Bowman, 17, both impressed React Engineering by showing great initiative to develop a business network ahead of work placements with the company.

Charlie initially knocked on the company’s door offering to work on a voluntary basis to gain experience but was instead a paid summer placement. He then went out of his way to build new business connections, including helping forge new relationships between the company and Lakes College.

Sam was similarly proactive from an early age and started to build his professional network while still at school after taking part in React’s Elevated Horizon Balloon Project – a challenge where local school pupils were tasked with capturing an image of the curvature of the earth, using a weather balloon, sensors and 360 degree camera.

As a reward for showing their initiative and desire to promote the business, Charlie has started a four-year Engineering Technician apprenticeship and Sam has been accepted on to the company’s innovative React Futures scheme which provides, among other benefits, an annual salary of £14,000 to support candidates through their studies at university.

Kayleigh Daniels, Head of Development at React Engineering, said: “Both Sam and Charlie showed impressive entrepreneurial spirit to support React while still at school, and we felt strongly that we should support and enhance the excellent attitude and skills they displayed.

“Their vision, initiative and drive to build a business network has been incredible, and will add real value to our business.

“Both are excellent examples to any young people that have an interest in a certain company, or a certain profession or sector, that going out and making connections and proactively seeing what’s out there can open doors to exciting career opportunities.

“Young, enthusiastic people like Sam and Charlie are the future of companies like React, and they have added real value to our current clients while also building new connections.”

Charlie showed real entrepreneurial ambition when he offered his services in exchange for experience in the workplace, and the team at React was so impressed with his passion that they offered him a paid, six-week summer placement.

He repaid the faith shown in him and has led experienced clients through workshops at the age of just 17 and opened up a new relationship with education provider Lakes College, leading to him becoming the company’s first Engineering Technician apprentice.

Charlie said: “I spent the summer with React and what I enjoyed most was that they gave me the responsibility to get involved on a wide variety of live projects, which helped me gain confidence in my own ability.

“The team was very supportive and allowed me to get hands-on with many jobs, and I really enjoyed being given the freedom to work things out for myself.

“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to develop my skills and figure out what path I want to go down, and I want to learn as much as I can over the next four years before deciding which degree to study.”

Sam’s involvement with React Engineering started while a pupil at Cockermouth School when chosen to participate in the weather balloon project, and he returned to the company to carry out a work placement this summer.

His aptitude and desire to help the company develop has earned him a place on the React Futures scheme which will finance the final two years of his Masters degree in Physics at the University of Birmingham, with a full-time graduate consultant post awaiting him on completion of his degree.

Sam said: “The support from the React Futures programme is an absolute Godsend and there are very few schemes out there which come close in terms of the financial and professional support provided.

“I have engaged with React for many years and the company promotes a supportive working environment, and I feel like if I need help or assistance in any way there is always somebody willing to help.

“React asked me what my goals were and I told them I wanted to achieve my Chartership, and the company has already shown great support to help me achieve this and has committed to providing the help I need to fulfil all components.”

React Engineering has launched its new apprenticeship programme and is looking for people with an interest in Project Management, Engineering or other STEM routes, to get in touch.

React Futures is a programme devised to provide financial and professional development support to young people with the aim of accelerating the achievement of their potential, enabling the sector to benefit from the vibrancy and creativity of young people with the skills and technical capability to make a difference, whilst also supporting the individual achieve their professional goals, such as Chartered status in their chosen field.