This spring, the engineering community is being invited to rally around a challenge that captures the very best of what our profession stands for. Determination, empathy and a shared responsibility to open doors for those who come next. On 14 April 2026, IET member Sethu Ponniah, MIET, will set off on an extraordinary journey across Scotland to raise awareness and funds for the IET Futures Fund, supporting students who face financial barriers on their path into engineering.
At first glance, the numbers alone are striking. More than 600 miles in total. Over two demanding weeks. A combination of long-distance cycling and walking through some of Scotland’s most rugged and beautiful landscapes. But this challenge is about far more than physical endurance. It is about creating opportunity and ensuring that talent, not circumstance, shapes the future of engineering.
A route that reflects a bigger mission
Sethu’s journey begins in Ullapool, where he will cycle more than 440 miles to Aberdeen via the iconic North Coast 500. This route is known for its tough climbs, unpredictable weather and breathtaking scenery. From Aberdeen, the challenge continues on foot with a 160‑mile walk to Edinburgh, pushing both body and mind to their limits.
Every mile has meaning. The sheer scale of the challenge mirrors the determination required by many students who want to pursue engineering but lack the financial support to do so with confidence. By choosing such a demanding route, Sethu is shining a light on the obstacles that too often remain invisible.
Giving back to a profession that gave so much
Sethu’s motivation is deeply personal. Like many international and UK-based students, he experienced financial pressure during his own studies in the UK. Balancing academic demands with the realities of living costs can be exhausting, and for some, it becomes a barrier that is simply too high.
Rather than allowing that experience to fade into the background, Sethu has chosen to transform it into action. His challenge is a way of giving back to the institutions, communities and individuals who supported him along the way, while paying that support forward to future engineers.
The IET Futures Fund plays a vital role in this ecosystem. By offering financial assistance to students who need it most, the fund helps reduce stress, improve retention and allow students to focus on learning, innovation and growth. These are benefits that ripple far beyond the individual, strengthening the profession as a whole.
Connecting communities along the way
This journey is not a solitary one. Along the route, Sethu plans to connect with universities, engineering professionals and local supporters. These moments of connection are a crucial part of the challenge, creating space for conversation about access to education, diversity in engineering and how the community can work together to support emerging talent. Whether it is a brief conversation at a campus, a shared coffee with a fellow engineer or a word of encouragement from a passer-by, each interaction helps spread awareness of the Futures Fund and its impact. It also reminds us that engineering is, at its heart, a collective endeavour.
More than endurance
While the physical demands of cycling hundreds of miles and walking day after day are undeniable, Sethu’s journey is ultimately a call to action. It asks all of us to consider the role we can play in shaping the future of engineering.
Support can take many forms. A donation to the IET Futures Fund can directly change a student’s experience. Messages of encouragement can provide motivation on tough days. Some supporters may even choose to join Sethu for a stretch of the route, turning individual effort into a shared experience.
As Sethu puts it, “Let’s give tomorrow’s engineers the future they deserve.” It is a simple statement, but one that carries real weight. The future of engineering depends on who gets the chance to participate, to learn and to thrive.
Why this matters now
Engineering faces no shortage of challenges, from sustainability and infrastructure to digital transformation and resilience. Meeting these challenges requires a diverse, skilled and supported pipeline of talent. When financial hardship forces capable students to step away, the entire profession loses out.
Initiatives like the IET Futures Fund help ensure that potential is not wasted. Sethu’s challenge brings this mission into sharp focus, reminding us that behind every statistic is a real person with ambition, curiosity and the ability to make a difference.
How you can be part of the journey
If Sethu’s story resonates with you, there are clear ways to get involved. Take time to read his full story and consider donating to the IET Futures Fund via the “Sethu’s Pedals, Paths and Purpose: Fuelling Engineers of Tomorrow” page on the IET website. Share his journey with colleagues and networks. Follow along, offer encouragement and help amplify the message.
Your support, whether large or small, could be the spark that changes a young engineer’s life. And in doing so, you become part of a journey that stretches far beyond Scotland’s roads and paths, into classrooms, labs and careers yet to begin.