Renishaw recently empowered students in Bristol to experience 3-D printing first hand with a Christmas-themed initiative. Continuing its commitment to STEM education, Renishaw partnered with the
SS Great Britain Trust's Future Brunels Programme. As part of this collaboration, Renishaw sponsored the Christmas tree in Brunel Square, located next to Brunel’s famous SS Great Britain steamship, where students have designed and 3-D printed unique baubles to adorn the tree. This festive event aims to motivate students to explore careers in engineering and science, encouraging them to become the next generation of innovators.
The Future Brunels programme inspires students from years 7 to 11 across various Bristol schools to engage in hands-on STEM activities. This year, students visited Renishaw’s STEM Centre at its headquarters site near Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire, and were challenged to design their own baubles using TinkerCAD 3D modelling software.
Each student created two custom baubles — one for the Christmas tree in Brunel Square and one to take home as a keepsake. The designs were carefully checked for suitability by Renishaw’s team and then 3-D printed using the latest AM technology.
Lucy Spiteri-Beale, STEM tutor at Renishaw, said: “By inviting students into our headquarters, we give them real-world experience in STEM and engineering. These types of activities not only spark their creativity but also introduces them to potential early career opportunities in engineering. Students who participated in previous Future Brunels programmes have decided to pursue engineering as a career path, which is incredibly rewarding.”
In addition to the bauble project, Renishaw's team provided an engaging afternoon of learning, where students participated in an experiment on electromagnetic induction. This hands-on activity further expanded their understanding of engineering principles and showcased the possibilities within the STEM field. The programme culminated in a festive celebration on 26 November, at the Christmas tree lighting ceremony in Brunel Square, SS Great Britain.
The event featured Victorian Christmas-themed activities, an artificial snow machine and carol singing, with Old Father Christmas and ‘Mr Brunel’ also in attendance. Renishaw has also produced intricate metal 3-D printed corporate baubles to complement the students' designs, adding a contemporary engineering twist to the Christmas decorations.
Susannah Silo, development manager at the SS Great Britain Trust, said: “The support of Renishaw means the world to us here at the SS Great Britain Trust. As a dedicated education charity, we rely on the generous support of our partners to help us deliver our STEM programmes in Bristol and beyond. Working with industry leaders such as Renishaw places cutting-edge technology alongside the heritage learning on site at the SS Great Britain, widening the Future Brunels’ views of STEM beyond school.”
This partnership exemplifies Renishaw’s commitment to inspiring young people and breaking down barriers to careers in STEM fields. The collaboration with the SS Great Britain Trust aligns with Renishaw’s mission to support future innovators through community engagement.