The annual programme designed to inspire the next generation of engineers by giving secondary school pupils hands-on experience with robotics, coding and real-world industrial engineering, was kicked off by University of Northampton’s (UON) Schools Engagement Team at the Cummins Inc plant in Daventry last month.
Cummins is a manufacturer of large industrial engines and the Mindstorm Masters programme delivered by UON’s Schools Engagement Team introduces young students from the nearby E-Act Parker Academy to engineering at a pivotal stage in their education.
The Schools Engagement Team designed a programme where pupils, through a series of interactive sessions combining creativity, teamwork and problem‑solving, gain insight into how to work towards a future career in engineering, manufacturing and Science, Technology, Engineering Arts and Maths (STEAM) related fields.
Since inception, the programme has been delivered to 150 pupils from five Widening Access partner secondary schools.
During the launch day pupils built their first LEGO Mindstorms robots and toured the factory to see engineering in action. From cranes and conveyor belt systems capable of moving tonnes of machinery with precision, to the production of caravan-sized engines which are used across the world – including hospital backup generators, data centres, shipping, construction equipment – students were given a behind‑the‑scenes look at industrial-scale innovation.
Ethan Friebe, a second-year UYON/Cummins Technical Engineering Degree Apprentice reflected on the value of initiatives like Mindstorm Masters, adding: “When I was their age, I would have absolutely loved something like this.
“Seeing engineering in person — not just reading about it — shows young people what’s possible.
“It gives them a goal and a pathway. UON and Cummins working together means these students now have a direct link into the world of engineering and what’s more, they can see it happening on their doorstep.”
Following the launch, pupils will take part in a four‑week series of one-hour workshops at school guided by the Apprentices and Student Ambassadors. They will learn the basics of programming using LEGO Word Blocks software and working in small teams, they will build and improve their robots while developing key skills including:
- Imagination and creativity
- Perseverance and resilience
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Communication
- Coding and problem‑solving
Laura Mehigan, Careers Lead at E-ACT Parker Academy, emphasised the importance of exposing students to real workplaces and said “It’s a great opportunity for them to build teamwork skills and when things go wrong during the build, it develops resilience and problem‑solving.
“And seeing a workplace live and in action is invaluable for helping them imagine their future careers.”
To find out more about how the University of Northampton is inspiring the next generation, visit the Schools Engagement (Widening Access) webpage.