Primary Engineer sees rapid expansion after funded scaleup support

By Boost Business Lancashire

05 Apr 2022

gh_primary_engineer-260418_press_-6.jpg

An educational programme provider has increased its team to 20 and is looking to expand its programmes across the UK after receiving tailored guidance during the pandemic from Lancashire County Council’s scaleup business support service Two Zero.

Primary Engineer, a not-for-profit organisation headquartered in Burnley, specialises in promoting engineering education and careers in UK schools. Its expansion plans include introducing the programme into Wales for the first time this year.

The organisation’s core aim is the development of children and young people through engagement with engineering and promoting engineering careers and it is backed by industry partners including Network Rail, ScotRail, Hitachi, Siemens, WEIR, RAF and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Primary Engineer also operates a swathe of national engineering celebration events for children, with over 100 planned across the UK this academic year.

Founder Dr Susan Scurlock MBE, a former secondary school teacher, took part in Two Zero’s Scaleup Resurgence programme, which ran during the pandemic though the second half of 2020.

She received support to help her move educational programmes online, as well as tailored support for scaleups including on finance and planning. This has positioned the organisation for growth over the coming years.

Susan said: “By moving many of our programmes online during the pandemic, we found we have greater access to engineering professionals to deliver the programmes remotely. This has led to a rapid growth of specialists available to support our activities.

The Scaleup Resurgence programme was designed to support scaleup companies in Lancashire through the Covid-19 pandemic and return them to their scaleup trajectory as quickly as possible.

Two Zero is a Lancashire County Council led scaleup partnership and helps leaders of Lancashire scaleup businesses realise their ambition by delivering programmes, providing access to inspirational and educational resources and opportunities to network with other scaleup leaders.

Two Zero Scaleup Resurgence was delivered by Lancashire-based business performance consultancy Cube Thinking.

During the Scaleup Resurgence programme, Susan increased her experience related to business planning, defining strategy objectives and how to use business measurement tools. She also benefitted from working alongside business leaders facing the same challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said: “As business professionals working together, we shared the same challenges but were dealing with them through different processes as we all sought to find opportunities through adversity.”

“We have since adapted to new ways to deliver our Primary Engineer’s programmes, and we have learned to have the systems and processes in place to make sure the business is more adaptable in the future.”

Susan believes the organisation is now well-positioned for rapid growth and is hiring additional staff and expanding the range of programmes available to schools.

County councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth, Lancashire County Council said: “Programmes such as Two Zero’s Scaleup Resurgence help support businesses to grow and reach their potential. By helping Primary Engineer to scale, Two Zero is not just benefitting one organisation but also the partners it works with, contributing to the long-term growth of the county’s engineering sector.”

County councillor Jayne Rear, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Lancashire County Council said: “Primary Engineer provides a vital service to help promote engineering careers throughout the entire education sector. The work that Susan does through schools and colleges also aids the development of the country’s future engineers and I’m proud that through Lancashire County Council backed support this excellent organisation will be able to help more young people across the UK.”

Pictured above: MP Stephen Metcalfe and Dr Susan Scurlock, CEO of Primary Engineer, with school students at the Grading Day at Advanced Forming Research Centre, Inchinaan, Glasgow.

Latest news

1

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston Momentum

Roundhouse secures approval for new £15m office and industrial scheme in Preston

25 Jul 2025

2

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards Ben Garland and Julia Lorente

Homebuilder's high-performing sales advisers clinch awards

24 Jul 2025

3

Work is set to start on Multiversity project Multiversity Blackpool

Work is set to start on Multiversity project

24 Jul 2025

4

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft Typhoon production Warton

BAE Systems welcomes MOU between Republic of Turkiye and UK for purchase of Typhoon aircraft

23 Jul 2025

5

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C EDF Assystem

Assystem to double UK jobs to deliver Sizewell C

22 Jul 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025
BEC 315 X 315 Px
Networking
25 Sep 2025

Lancashire Built Environment Conference 2025

Blackpool Football Club, Blackpool, FY1 6HX

08:30 - 13:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech
July PTC banner long updated.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
29 Jul 2025 - 29 Jul 2025

Preston Tech Connection: Buzz Word Bingo. Challenging Todays's Buzzwords In Tech

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:30

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July
Longer July Banner.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Networking
31 Jul 2025 - 31 Jul 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: July

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th
Navy--Event Tile.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
14 Aug 2025 - 14 Aug 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – August 14th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (24).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
21 Aug 2025 - 21 Aug 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Mytton Fold, Langho, BB6 8AB

11:30 - 14:15

Morecambe Bay Walk
Walk.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Awards
30 Aug 2025 - 30 Aug 2025

Morecambe Bay Walk

Arnside, CARNFORTH, LA5

09:30 - 14:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin