Techniquest’s STEM Friends project, a creative initiative funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering, has made a measurable impact in the classroom.
The project has connected primary schools across Wales with real-life engineers through the art of letter writing. Pupils were paired with STEM professionals from disciplines like civil, mechanical and environmental engineering, and encouraged to ask questions, share their day-to-day activities, and express their curiosity through the written word.
Amy Healey, a teacher at St Anne’s Catholic Primary School in Wrexham, said: “They have really enjoyed being able to speak to someone in the world of engineering to listen to their career progress and how they became where they are today.
“They also enjoyed waiting to receive a response from the letter they wrote and having the person pick out questions they have asked was amazing. The children seeing their questions being answered made them very happy!”
By showing that engineering is not just about maths and machines, but also about creativity, collaboration, and making a difference in the world, STEM Friends helped pupils connect their interests and talents with real-world possibilities.
Liv Davies from Airbus said: “I loved receiving the letters and sharing them with the other Airbus volunteers from this project.
“It was great to see the enthusiasm everyone had and to get to know some wonderful kids, as for most of our outreach we only get to speak to pupils once.”
For the participating children, it was an eye-opening journey into the possibilities of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, especially for those who may not have access to role models in these fields at home.
Louis Paddon, also from Airbus, said: “I really enjoyed sharing my experiences with the students, it made me realise how far I’ve come already even as a graduate. It was great to answer their questions and it was interesting to see what they asked, as it was often very different to what my colleagues would ask!
“The students seemed enthusiastic and I hope they have been inspired.”
Thanks to support from the Royal Academy of Engineering, the project is a shining example of how educational initiatives and industry partnerships can work together to benefit young learners.
A special mention to our fantastic engineers that gave up their time to participate in the project!
Frazer-Nash
KLA
DOW
Acadis
Dwr Cymru
Andrew Scott
Skanska
WSP
YGC
Renishaw
Airbus
Jacobs