The
Big Bang Fair 2017 — held at the NEC (near Birmingham) 15-18 March — was the most successful yet, attracting well over 80,000 people (an increase of 15% compared to last year).
Furthermore, more than 10% of all UK secondary schools registered; there was also an equal number of boys and girls among the key target audience of 11- to 14-year-olds.
Visitors were treated to hundreds of hands-on STEM activities, workshops and stage shows. They also had the chance to speak to professional engineers and scientists who had volunteered their time.
The number of careers conversations at the Careers Cabin and with Careers Captains reached almost 10,000 — more than double the 2016 number.
Contributing to the event were the likes of Airbus, BAE Systems, National Grid, Rolls-Royce and Sellafield, which have been supporting the
Big Bang Fair since the first one in 2009.
New sponsors this year included: Air Products, Aveva, DE&S, Interserve, GKN, Meccano, Roche, Specsavers, Staffordshire University and Zeiss. The event attracted widespread media interest across print and broadcast (the BBC gave live coverage with Steph McGovern throughout the Breakfast Show on the Thursday).
The Big Bang Fair also hosted the finals of the Big Bang Competition, which saw 600 young people pitch their science and engineering projects to judges.
Paul Jackson, chief executive of the organiser (Engineering UK), said: “We are delighted that the Big Bang Fair continues to be a source of STEM inspiration for young people.
“The commitment of the industry and wider community to this event saw classroom learning come to life and young visitors, their teachers and parents engaged in meaningful careers conversations with professionals.”