AN INNOVATIVE and challenging course from a leading aerospace engineering firm has inspired a future for one West Fife student.

Logan Matheson, 15, is in S5 at Dunfermline High School and was given the opportunity to take part in a new programme from Leonardo which brought together youngsters from a host of different backgrounds.

The course was created by a team of apprentices, Mathew Wood, Sarah Devlin, Daniella Marrocco and Ruairi Potter, with the aim of providing pupils with an introduction to work in a STEM-related (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) industry.

Logan said: "My favourite part of this week has probably been building bridges. I found that quite interesting learning how everything works.

"Something that was really important was using triangles for its construction, as it is a really strong shape.

"There was stuff you wouldn’t consider like the length of the bridge impacts its strength.

"Instead of just hearing about it, I found that actually seeing it makes a much bigger impact."

The teenager was joined by six others from across Scotland and was given the opportunity to mix with his peers as well as professionals to complete a difficult project.

He added: "When I first came here I didn’t know anyone and I had to speak to tons of new people and learn a lot of new things, so you have to get more confident.

"I wouldn’t normally stand up in front of a big group of people and speak – that is quite out of my comfort zone – but I’m happy I did it. I’m only in S5 just now so I’m probably going to stay another year but I’m definitely going to consider engineering, as I find it quite interesting and I’m going to see if I can get this type of job."

The students were given information on their roles and were supported to co-ordinate scheduled meetings and briefings in the run-up to a final presentation for senior management.

Sarah Devlin, second-year indirect procurement graduate apprentice, said: "None of them knew each other before they came in so they went from being quiet and sitting by themselves to working as part of a team and chatting away to each other at lunchtime.

"Getting them to be quiet by the end of it was the difficult bit! Seeing them bond as a team was a really special thing.

"In our day-to-day roles, we work with quite a variety of people and we are a diverse company, more so than most engineering companies I think.

"It is good to mirror that in the work experience so they can actually see the different roles they can take."