This is a talking point published in the Hereford Times on September 12.

James Newby, chief executive, NMITE

I WAS advised recently that the articles generating the most buzz for the Hereford Times usually involve one of three topics: local people doing extraordinary things, crime, and potholes. So, I’ll try to include all three.

This past week, I had the privilege of seeing off NMITE’s first-ever intake of students – our Pioneer Cohort – onto the next stage of their professional lives.

After completing their courses and securing fantastic jobs, most are now working as professional engineers.

I miss them, but life moves on relentlessly and their space is already filled by our next cohort of promising young people.

There’ll be more to say about the new students, but for now, I want to highlight how our graduates have made their mark on our county.

Their final task at NMITE was to complete a postgraduate project, applying their expertise to real-world challenges.

These talented individuals are extraordinary – partly because of where they started, but mostly because of what they’ve achieved.

One local student, who grew up on a farm and has now completed a master’s degree in engineering, designed a new safety detection system for farm machinery to help reduce fatal accidents. Another developed a device to monitor blood flow in critically ill patients.

Other projects included new flood detection systems and improvements to food production lines. One applied “nudge theory” to help reduce distraction burglaries and boost cybersecurity, while another designed a system to monitor single-use cars, gathering data to reduce road wear and, erm, potholes.

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These projects are not just theoretical, though most push the boundaries of current knowledge, they are immensely practical – most will find realworld applications.

They aim to make tangible improvements to our world and our lives: enhancing flood responses, improving farm safety, advancing healthcare, reducing waste, fixing our roads, and fighting crime.

Our graduating students are extraordinary locals doing amazing things – some involving crime and potholes. That should get the Hereford Times website buzzing.