Where should I start?

I am interested in sustainability and particularly information the magazine gave about planned nuclear developments. My assignment was comparing how we tackle global warming: either retracting into sustainable societies (eco-villages) or accepting that global population growth will continue and that we must meet the needs of the world with improved science and technology.

I decided a number of years ago that I wanted to be a structural engineer when I left school. I am planning to take A-level maths, physics, business studies and English, to get into the appropriate university course. However, when doing my assignment I felt I wanted to be part of the environmental solution and I now feel I would rather study to be a mechanical and electrical engineer working on environmental solutions and nuclear power or green energy.

I have already made some tentative enquiries about future prospects. They are gloomy. I understand Arup has slashed its intake of graduates and many graduates I have followed have failed to secure work after university.

Atkins’ head of energy Martin Grant says: “The reality is that you need to influence and inform children at about 14 - but it’s a decade later that they enter the workforce” (26 November, Market Reports: Power, page 10). I am 15 (year 11) and I am already influenced.

How do I get into the stream to enter the nuclear or green energy field? Is M&E engineering my best route? Who do I approach for a career and do I have to be a graduate or can I enter the field at 18 after my A-levels and take my degree part-time as a sponsored vocational qualification?

Lloyd Holmes