INVITATION ONLY
The Graduate Engineering Engagement Programme (GEEP) aims to directly influence the engineering talent pipeline by addressing the challenge of underrepresentation and skills gaps in the profession. Since 2015 the programme has engaged over 2,000 engineering students from underrepresented backgrounds, supporting their transition into engineering employment. This programme is delivered with support from more than 50 engineering company partners and more than 70 universities.
This event marks the end of GEEP 2025/26 cycle, to celebrating the achievements of the current cohort and providing the last opportunity of the year them to connect with industry partner representatives to increase their networks.
Programme*
|
Time |
Agenda |
|
10.00am |
Registration and refreshments |
|
10.30am |
Opening remarks |
|
10.40am |
Keynote address |
|
11.00am |
Review of GEEP |
|
11.15am |
Panel discussion, joint mentors and mentees |
|
11.45am |
Graduation ceremony |
|
12.30pm |
Ambassador programme overview |
|
12.40pm |
Networking reception and lunch |
|
3.00pm |
Event close |
*subject to change
Photography and filming notice
Please note that photography and filming will take place during this event. All photographs and videos will be securely stored on the Academy’s servers and used for editorial, marketing and media use by the Academy and selected press or industry media. Please let us know if you do not agree to this processing. Please refer to our General Privacy Policy for more details.
Venue and accessibility
It is very important to the Royal Academy of Engineering that our events are accessible to all. If you have any accessibility requirements, please contact the Events team more than one week in advance of this event so that necessary arrangements can be made. Contact details: [email protected].
Further information about accessibility at Prince Philip House can be found at: https://raeng.org.uk/about-us/accessibility.
Diversity monitoring form
The Academy is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion and one of our goals is to develop an engineering community fit for the future. To help us achieve this, we would like to collect some basic anonymous data about the event attendees. If you would like to help, please complete the diversity monitoring form by logging into your user account on our website and completing ‘Update my D&I data’.
Les Gill
Les is a board-level executive, strategist, and business mentor with extensive experience helping organisations turn ambitious ideas into sustainable commercial outcomes. His work spans leading-edge technology, advanced engineering, battery innovation, intellectual property governance, and business transformation.
He currently serves as Chief Operating Officer and Chair of the Board for a company operating in the battery sector, where he supports operational strategy, technology transformation, governance development, and strategic growth. Les also works as Strategy Director for an independent chemistry research organisation, contributing to its medium to long-term strategic direction, innovation roadmap, and partnership development.
Alongside these executive responsibilities, Les works internationally with SMEs, technology ventures, and innovation-driven organisations. He helps leadership teams scale operations, secure investment, navigate complex growth environments, and bridge the gap between research, innovation, and commercial success. His approach brings together strategy, governance, mentoring, and practical execution.
Recognised as one of the UK’s leading professional business mentors, Les works on the UK Government’s Help to Grow Programme and supports the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Executive Accelerator Programme. He is also co-author of Addressing the Stag Syndrome (2025), which explores the pressures faced by business leaders and the value of stronger mentoring and peer support.
Les holds an MBA from Warwick Business School and a Master’s in Executive Business Mentoring. His professional affiliations include MCIPS, MILM, Fellow of the Association of Business Mentors, and Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.