The Next Engineers Discovery programme continues to build momentum across Staffordshire, with 1,649 students engaged during the 2025/26 academic year.
Delivered in partnership with The Inspirational Learning Group, the programme gives Year 9 students the opportunity to experience engineering first-hand through practical, problem-solving challenges designed to stretch thinking and build confidence.
Sessions such as Marble Run, Toxic Popcorn and Critical Load introduce students to core engineering principles in a way that feels accessible and relevant. More importantly, they open the door to an industry many students have not previously considered.
This is reflected in the results. Following participation in Discovery, 85% of students reported an increased awareness of engineering and the opportunities available within it.
Alongside student engagement, the programme has been supported by 22 GE volunteers, contributing a combined 83 hours. Their involvement brings real-world context into the classroom, helping students connect what they are learning to real careers, real pathways and real people.
Teacher feedback has reinforced the value of the sessions:
“I loved that it challenged stereotypes.”
“Excellent delivery from start to finish.”
“Excellent fun activity to help students bond together.”
The programme continues to focus not just on awareness, but on shaping how students see themselves in relation to engineering. Through hands-on activity and interaction with industry professionals, students begin to build confidence, curiosity and a sense of possibility.
As highlighted within the Next Engineers programme:
“Engineers build worlds. All kinds of worlds. Worlds that haven’t even been thought of yet.”
That idea sits at the core of Discovery. It is about helping young people recognise their potential to shape the future, while giving them a clear, early understanding of where engineering could take them.
Liam Brookes, Delivery Manager at The Inspirational Learning Group, said:
“It’s a privilege to deliver this programme across Staffordshire and see first-hand the shift in how young people think about engineering. For many, it’s the first time they’ve seen it as something they could genuinely pursue. That’s where Discovery makes a difference.”
With continued delivery planned, the Discovery programme remains a key part of the wider Next Engineers pathway, supporting the next generation as they move from awareness through to deeper engagement and future opportunities within engineering.
