To improve science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) engagement in primary schools around Gloucestershire, global engineering technologies company Renishaw is sponsoring a local not-for-profit company STEMworks to deliver 100 workshops with students aged nine to 11 to inspire the next generation of engineers (www.renishaw.com/education-outreach).

During these sessions, STEMworks will talk about what engineering is, what engineers do and then students will have the opportunity to think like engineers as they participate in a K’NEX competition in the classroom increasing STEM-related skills such as problem-solving, teamwork and following a technical brief.

At each session, a class is given a brief and then one hour to make a machine using K’Nex creative building toys. The sessions are often supported by Renishaw STEM Ambassadors, who help the students to understand how they can design, build and test their ideas.

Rebecca Bound, education outreach officer at Renishaw, said: “We have the opportunity to influence over 3,000 students by running 100 workshops at schools across Gloucestershire.

“It can be challenging for schools to deliver engaging workshops, if they are limited by the curriculum or a lack of resources.

"The collaboration between Renishaw and STEMworks means that we can work with more schools to deliver exciting activities that contextualise engineering and encourage students to consider studying STEM subjects at a higher level.”