Five Tribes is committed to reducing the chronic engineering skills shortage in the UK.  We work with schools, Government, the third sector and clients from large industry to make engineering more accessible to all.  The goal is to have engineering widely seen as a people focussed, socially beneficial discipline rather than the more traditional view of a stand-alone subject for “STEM Devotees”.

Our core values of inclusion and diversity reflect the conclusions of research at the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).  Published in 2016, “Five Tribes – Personalising Engineering Education” describes the attitudes and beliefs of secondary school children in the UK.  It shows a widespread interest in helping engineering to benefit society much in excess of the intrinsic interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Led by Dr Colin Brown, for 16 years the Engineering Director then CEO at the IMechE, we focus on supporting teaching to understand, and then implement, the practical changes in behaviours that will make a difference.  We use Colin’s extensive network in engineering education to ensure that our work has maximum impact by building on the latest thinking and most active partnerships.