Otters, oceans and a mental health app are the stars of a new campaign to help parents recommend jobs that make a positive difference to the world.

Almost two-thirds of parents want their children to have a job that is something they can be proud of and two-fifths want their child to make a positive difference to society with their careers.

While just one in five parents were told that they could have a job that makes a difference to the world when they were young, parents are now taking steps to ensure their children have better information.

More than six in ten parents of Generation Z children have had discussions about how their future jobs could make a difference to the world and many believe that engineering is a career that could make this happen.

While parents of 11-18 year olds feel that teaching or being a doctor are the careers most likely to enable their child to do good in the future, 43% believe becoming an engineer would make a difference.

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week launches today (5 November) to inspire young people and parents with examples of engineers on a mission to make a positive difference to society.

Engineers featured include a dynamic dozen all working on exciting projects that make a positive difference to the world.

Stars include Jack Hooper from doppel, who has engineered a device to improve mental health and two engineers from Robertson’s Engineering, who have saved the lives of otters with an innovative road crossing.

Jack Hooper, Co-Founder of doppel, commented:

My work shows that anything is possible with engineering. Tackling some of the biggest issues in the world, like improving mental health, needs to see engineers like me working alongside other professionals, in new ways, to create new solutions. Anyone who wants to make a positive difference to the world should consider a career in engineering.

Dr Serena Cunsolo from University of Portsmouth is also involved. She was part of the Ocean Cleanup team and is now looking at how plastics can be prevented from entering our rivers and oceans.

The engineers on a mission will be the stars of films and a unique Tomorrow’s Engineers Week Big Assembly which offers schools across the UK the chance to take part in the same assembly on engineering careers at the same time.

The Tomorrow’s Engineers Week Big Assembly takes place on Wednesday 7 November and over 350 schools have already signed up to the Big Assembly with 40,000-plus students expected to take part.

Image: IOSF