The programme started in 2007 and is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to support grants of up to £30,000.
Reaching Underrepresented Communities in Engineering
The newly funded projects will engage communities throughout the UK to help reach underrepresented audiences and change perceptions of engineering. The programme provides engineers with training and encouragement to share their stories and engineering expertise with the public.
Creative STEM Outreach Through Robotics and Storytelling
This year's projects focus on topics from girls’ robotics and electrical engineering challenges to comics and engineering:
Girls’ Robotics Challenge is the UK’s first robotics competition for girls, focused on space-themed engineering tasks. This project, led by King's College London, will work with students in Years 8–11 to build robots, develop skills in coding, design thinking and teamwork, and gain a sense of belonging in engineering.
Comics and Engineering: the art and science of flood defence is a project that brings together Comics Youth CIC and flood engineers from the UK Environment Agency to foster resilience and connection between Merseyside communities and flood engineers.
Fostering Sustainability and Innovation in Youth Engineering
Many projects are aiming to introduce young people to energy and sustainability, including Black STEAM Goes Green, which will transform the annual Black STEAM celebration into a green engineering and sustainability-themed festival. The project brings together artists, engineers, scientists, and activists to co-create interactive, sustainability-themed experiences designed to inspire curiosity across all ages.
Turbine Taskforce - uniting society and sustainability will equip engineers with creative public engagement skills to inspire the next generation, focusing on wind energy and sustainability. The project targets underrepresented groups in Scotland’s most deprived areas, engaging S1–S3 students and local communities.
Terri's time travelling engineering adventure will engage engineers and over 200 Year 6 pupils from inner-city Manchester schools through an immersive theatrical adventure. Children will solve electrical engineering challenges alongside a time-travelling heroine, “Engineer Terri,” who will help them learn about resilience, problem-solving, and the value of their own ideas.
Engineering Career Inspiration and Skills Development
Ingenious Panel Chair Pete Lomas FREng commented:
“With critical skills shortages in engineering, it is vital that we signpost the opportunities that exist and encourage young people to consider a career in one of the diverse range of engineering disciplines that exist.
“The old adage ‘You cannot be what you cannot see’ still rings true, and the opportunity for children and the general public to meet real engineers is hugely important. It builds understanding, trust and provides the opportunity to ask pertinent questions.
“In addition to the outreach activities that the awardees have proposed, they also undertake engineer training in public outreach to develop the skills necessary to effectively communicate their work and promote engineering in general. Something that is rarely taught in other settings.
“Congratulations to all our 2025 awardees. I’m looking forward to following their activities and the impact they will have on their participants and the engineers alike.”
