Summer of Engineering bridges the gap
The Summer of Engineering internship programme helps employers find talent in a talent-short market and gives students real-life work experience.
Student participants of The Summer of Engineering internship programme at Clutterbot.
Wellington-based tech firm Clutterbot is a step closer to producing household robots. It's all thanks to help from interns over the summer.
For the past two years, Clutterbot has been part of the Summer of Engineering programme. It's an expansion of the successful Summer of Tech internship programme.
Clutterbot sees Summer of Engineering as a way to access resources. It's also about giving young professionals valid work experience. “It’s a great low-risk opportunity for companies. We get to give back but at the same time get a skilled resource that is enthusiastic and hungry for work,” says Clutterbot mechanical engineer Kimberley Attwell.
Clutterbot builds AI-enabled household robots that tidy up toys, clothing, and other clutter off the floor. To help boost production, the company employed three interns over the summer.
During his three-month tenure, Patrick Eir maintained and ran 3D printers. He was part of the robot chassis team which works on robots’ mechanical design. “He picked up a lot of the workload and managed to help us get 10 robots manufactured and assembled,” says Kimberly.
Those 10 robots are heading for Clutterbot’s branch in Bengaluru, India. There, robot software teams will write code to enable the robots to do their job. “Ultimately, our goal is to send these robots to people's houses to help them keep a clutter-free life,” says Kimberly.
Patrick’s internship helped Clutterbot keep on track with project deadlines. It also opened doors to invaluable experiences and learning opportunities for Patrick.
“Working alongside experienced professionals in your field exposes you to insights and knowledge that you wouldn’t typically encounter in a classroom setting, which is so crucial when starting in the engineering industry,” says Patrick. “I have gained valuable skills relevant to my mechanical engineering degree, such as CAD design and understanding of design processes. It’s been a real confidence booster.
“It’s made me so happy to help produce 10 robots for the company. It’s extraordinary knowing that I’ve got to be a part of the Clutterbot story and that I can look back and leave a legacy.”
Clutterbot’s chief hardware officer Jack Bannister-Sutton speaks highly of the Summer of Engineering programme. He started as an intern himself at Tekron International through the Summer of Tech programme. Like Patrick, Jack knows the programme is a win-win for students and businesses alike.
“Businesses gain many benefits from hiring interns. They bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table, especially considering the ever-changing evolution of new technology.”
Additionally, internships allow businesses to identify and recruit talented students who may eventually join the company. Two of Clutterbot’s three interns have returned to university. The third has accepted a full-time job offer at the company.
“It’s cost-beneficial. By the time interns finish, they understand the company well and how it works. That saves the company time and money instead of trying to find a graduate, train them, and get them up to speed,” says Patrick.
Over the summer of 2023/24, 15 engineering students were part of the Summer of Engineering programme. Nine of them were from the Wellington region.
The Summer of Engineering internship programme helps employers find talent in a talent-short market and gives students real-life work experience.
Embracing digital tools and processes will allow businesses to focus on growth.
Tech guru Leon Bowie is so passionate about technology he’s created a charity to help upskill the next generation – for free.
A Wellington charity is teaching a group of young wāhine skills to set them up for life and work.
A collaboration between three organisations in the Wellington region is proving beneficial for all involved. Entrepreneurial businesses work alongside Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington’s marketing school and WellingtonNZ to give students real-life experience.
Birds of a feather collab together rings true for Wellington’s Flight Coffee and Waitoa Brewery.
Puffin wine bar owner Hannah Wells ensures her specialist staff think of work as more than just a job.
The rise and rise of a peanut butter business is out of this world — literally.
The pool of talent in Wellington lured the UK’s fastest-growing energy supplier to set up its New Zealand headquarters here.
Physiotherapist and entrepreneur Bart de Vries is on a mission to reduce back pain by getting desk-bound people moving again.
A Wellington-based machine safety and risk management consultancy has ventured into the tech space hoping to create safer and more compliant workplaces.
This Wellington-based company is crafting crackers and crisps using rescued grain from beer production.
Expert company director and consultant Grant Foggo has some words of wisdom to help businesses during a tough economic climate.
The southern hemisphere’s first electric passenger ferry is proudly made in Wellington by a team passionate about tackling climate change.
A Wairarapa company is moving away from fixed work patterns to help locals into employment and grow its workforce.