Tomorrow’s Engineers Week: Inspiring the engineers of tomorrow – Jake’s story

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week aims to inspire the next generation to discover where a career in engineering could take them.

This year’s theme, ‘Shape our future’, is a reminder that the ideas, skills and ambitions of the next generation will be vital to tackling some of the biggest challenges facing society, from cleaner transport and new technologies to national security. It is an opportunity to show young people the breadth of careers available and that there is no single route into engineering.

To mark the week, we caught up with Jake Jeffries, a recent General Engineering graduate and currently on an internship in the ADS Economics Team working alongside Chief Economist, Aimie Stone. Read his Q&A below, to learn what inspired him to pursue engineering and what he has discovered during his time with us.

Jake, what did you study, where did you study it, and what interested you most?

I recently graduated from King’s College London in August 2026 after studying for a BSc in General Engineering for three years. My course gave me a broad understanding of engineering disciplines, ranging from vehicle dynamics to semiconductor materials and fabrication. I’ve always found an interest in understanding the way things work, and from a young age I was particularly fascinated by aircraft and cars, so mechanical, automotive and aerospace engineering seemed right for me.

What have you enjoyed about your internship?

Now in the third week of my internship with ADS’ Economics Team, I can already say it has been an amazing experience. I have been able to sit in on several high-level meetings, both in and out of the office, take part in important work and help with presentations.

The range of organisations, meetings and events I have been able to get involved with has been particularly interesting, including the UK Defence ESG Charter and an event focused on aerospace and defence investment. These experiences have provided valuable insights into the industries ADS works with and the people it connects with. Thanks to this, I’ve been able to speak to many interesting people with so much experience and expertise in their respective roles.

I have also been given challenging but rewarding tasks such as making macroeconomic outlook presentations and definition taxonomy diagrams that have greatly widened my understanding of the industries ADS works with, as well the important role economists play when it comes to data analysis and presenting information to audiences. There’s always something to be working on!

What does this year’s theme ‘Shape our future‘ mean to you?

To me, it resonates with the idea of building a better future for us and for generations to come. There are so many problems we face in today’s world, in all parts of the world, and it’s so important we’re constantly innovating and developing new ideas to improve energy, transport and national security. To shape the future brings hope; it means that we are actively building new ideas that will create a tomorrow we all want.

I think shaping our future also involves moulding the next generation of engineers to be inspired and forward-thinking individuals who genuinely want to make a difference. We should make sure that all young people, choosing what they might want to do with their lives, are shown a path that could lead to them being able to action their ambitions.

It is important to inform young people of the potential career paths within STEM, as well as ADS sectors that are often overlooked. Students often dismiss careers in these industries as they believe they are too far out of reach or are too serious for them to pursue, however the number of roles associated with engineering is almost endless, meaning people can find their interests and focus their ideas on areas that actually matter to them.

What role do you see yourself doing in the future?

I have found that the defence industry is where my heart is set on finding a career. With technological innovation at the forefront of the industry, I also do have a peculiar caveman-like fascination with things that move really fast or make loud bangs.

This is why my time with ADS has been so interesting to me, being able to see the sectors they work with has been an eye-opening experience. I genuinely am fascinated by the topics of discussion and do (mostly) understand the technical details that are being said, which often means I can engage with the work at hand and form ideas related to the subject matter. This is also why the opportunity to remain with ADS for a longer period than originally planned, is something I find incredibly exciting and difficult to turn down.

One path I am particularly interested in pursuing is one of the many graduate schemes for mechanical engineering roles within the defence industry. Alongside this, a career in the armed forces is another route I have considered exploring, as the opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills I have gained in a practical environment is something I find worthwhile.

How can our sectors be more inspiring to the next generation?

I would say that the sectors ADS represents (aerospace, defence, security and space) are all very well regarded amongst younger engineers in higher education, however it can be said that a large number of aspiring employees see working for the prime companies as their goal but are also aware of how competitive graduate schemes can be.

I’m aware that there are hundreds of SMEs that would love to have applicants but struggle because students are not aware of them, with many positions that would be perfect for the next generation flying under the radar, so to speak.

Overall, it’s worth promoting the variety in roles and positions throughout ADS sectors to grow interest and awareness of their existence. It is important to encourage interest in STEM and engineering from a younger age. Even at GCSE levels, teenagers are making decisions around the subjects they do that have an effect on what they are able to study later in education. Along with this, cultivating an actual interest in STEM subjects from a younger age will inspire students to actually study something they enjoy doing, not just something they have to do to pass through school.