Information for Parents 
They could achieve what?
A guide for parents
‘Nerdy’ or ‘boring’ – that’s how 15% of adults and teenagers perceive engineers. The Smallpeice Trust needs you – the parents – to help break that common stereotype.
At Smallpeice, we can help your son or daughter to become the engineering stars of tomorrow. By enrolling on one of our many interesting and exciting courses – there are more than 30 on offer - your child could end up with a bright future in anything from designing eco-homes to running shoes, spacecrafts or even water slides and roller coasters!
Research shows that in the UK, there is a massive shortfall of engineering talent. UK businesses are currently having to recruit abroad to fill the engineering gap. But you can help change that by encouraging your son or daughter towards an industry which has many benefits. As an engineer, they can expect to be well-paid and enjoy world-wide travel with plenty of career prospects.
Aside from all that, all of our courses are subsidised up to 75% and they are proven to help build essential life skills such as problem-solving, presentation skills, team-work while building confidence. They also enhance CVs and help UCAS applications really stand out.
All the courses take place at universities across the country which means your child also gets a valuable insight into what university life is like.
Help wet your child’s appetite for a career and future in engineering with The Smallpeice Trust. Encourage your son or daughter to take a look at the courses on offer and sign up today!
Here’s a list of questions parents frequently ask us about the courses:
What will my child be doing?
Whichever course your son or daughter chooses, you can be sure they’ll gain a real insight into modern engineering. Trained professionals deliver every programme and safety is absolutely paramount. We encourage the students to work together on ‘design and build’ engineering projects – challenging them to use their communication, problem-solving and presentation skills to achieve real results. In short, they’ll be exploring their potential as engineers of the future.
How safe will they be?
The security of students is our first priority. Our entire team is fully trained, CRB checked and first-aid qualified. We select every venue with great care, preferring self-contained campuses to city centres. Trips are always supervised. On average there is one teacher for every 10 students. Our risk assessment and student protection policy documents can be viewed by selecting the following respective documents:
Student Protection PolicyHow do they apply?
Forms are available from your child’s school, by download from this website or online when you click here. You’ll need to authorise the application.
How much does it cost?
Prices range from £145 to £325 and are clearly shown on the details of each course. This includes all accommodation and board, but not transport to the venue and additional snacks. Course fees are non-refundable and we reserve the right to charge non-attendance at the full unsubsidised rate where less than 10 days notice is given. There are no hidden extras.
When is payment required?
Unless otherwise stated, your payment is required within one month of receiving our invoice. An offer may be withdrawn if no payment is received. Course fees are non-refundable once paid. Cancellation of a course will result in a full refund.
Can I spread the costs?
In some circumstances we can help parents to spread the cost of the course fee over an agreed time frame. If payment, or immediate payment, is an issue, contact our Education Team Leader, James Alterman on 01926 333200 who may be able to agree a payment plan with you.
What will they eat?
Your son or daughter will enjoy full board and have a choice of meals – including vegetarian options. We can make provision for special dietary requirements too, as long as you notify us on the health form. Soft drinks are provided with meals and additional snacks and refreshments can be purchased at other times.
Where will they stay?
Students stay on a university campus and accommodation is not mixed. We try to separate students into same-sex blocks, but if this isn’t possible they are usually divided by floors or locked doors and supervised by CRB checked adults of the same sex. Only Smallpeice course attendees are resident in the accommodation.
How can I find out more?
If you would like to find out more about the courses that we run why not have a look at our new video? There is a section on it for parents which provides a great insight into what the courses are like and how they run. Click here to watch this short film.
What if I have more questions?
We’ll be happy to help and you can contact us using the details on this site. Just click here. To discover more, simply click on the name of the course in which you are interested or view the pdf:
