Manufacturers  Engineers of the Future

Inspiring the next generation at Smart Manufacturing Week 2026.

The STEM Programme at Smart Manufacturing Week is dedicated to inspiring young people and reshaping perceptions of manufacturing and engineering as dynamic, innovative and essential career paths within the future UK economy.

As technology advances at pace and skills shortages continue to widen, engaging students early has never been more critical. The STEM Programme connects young minds directly with the realities of modern manufacturing, offering hands on experiences, meaningful industry interaction and clear pathways into future careers.

Through immersive learning and real world insight, the programme empowers students with the confidence, curiosity and practical understanding needed to thrive in manufacturing and engineering roles of tomorrow.

Programme objectives

  • Promote STEM careers – Spark curiosity and raise awareness of the breadth of opportunities across manufacturing and engineering, helping to address long term skills shortages.
  • Enhance practical learning – Deliver interactive workshops, live demonstrations and hands on activities that bring STEM subjects to life and complement classroom learning.
  • Build industry connections – Create meaningful links between students, educators and industry professionals, supporting mentorship, inspiration and career progression.
  • Champion diversity and inclusion – Encourage participation from all backgrounds, with a strong focus on increasing female representation within manufacturing and engineering.

Supporting national priorities

The STEM Programme aligns closely with key UK government strategies and education priorities, including:

  • STEM education and skills development – Supporting the future workforce needs of manufacturing, engineering and technology sectors.

  • Levelling up – Promoting equal access to career inspiration and opportunity across all regions of the UK.

  • Industrial strategy and innovation – Encouraging engagement with advanced manufacturing, automation, digitalisation and emerging technologies.

  • Net Zero and sustainability goals – Demonstrating how STEM careers play a vital role in delivering Net Zero by 2050.

  • National Careers Strategy – Providing practical, real world career insight to inform future education and employment choices.

Who Should Attend the STEM Programme?

Students (Year 10, 11, 12, 13 and university or college level)

A unique opportunity to explore real world STEM careers before making key education and career decisions. Students gain first hand exposure to modern manufacturing, engineering and technology roles through practical activities and direct engagement with industry professionals.

Educators and schools

Enhance classroom learning with immersive STEM experiences that bring subjects to life. Connect with industry leaders to explore collaboration opportunities, curriculum enrichment and future pathways for students.

Parents and guardians

Gain valuable insight into STEM career routes, including apprenticeships, higher education and emerging roles. Support informed decision making by understanding the skills, opportunities and long term prospects within manufacturing and engineering.

Why Attend Smart Manufacturing Week?

Smart Manufacturing Week is the UK’s fastest-growing festival of advanced manufacturing and engineering, welcoming over 13,500 manufacturers, engineers and technology leaders each year.

The event brings together cutting edge content, influential speakers, hands on experiences and many of the world’s leading manufacturing brands, alongside innovative UK SMEs.

Attendees can:

✔ Explore the future of manufacturing and engineering in one place

✔ Discover world leading technologies from global brands and emerging innovators

✔ Learn about training, development and career opportunities across the UK’s second largest sector

✔ Take part in interactive workshops, live demonstrations and competitions

Best of British Showcase

Join us in a celebration of domestic manufacturing, featuring world-beating new designs, innovative modes of manufacture, products that redefine categories, and export successes that plant the flag in overseas markets. 

Discover the products, processes and ideas that are redefining British manufacturing on the global stage.

The Best of British Showcase, hosted at Smart Manufacturing Week 2026, brings together groundbreaking designs, pioneering manufacturing methods and export successes that proudly champion UK innovation. From world-first technologies to iconic engineering excellence, this is where Britain’s manufacturing story is told — boldly, credibly and at scale.

Here's What Happened in 2025...

STEM Programme Highlights – June 5, 2025 (12-4 PM)

STEM PROGRAMME BANNER

Inspiring speaker sessions and young people panel

Students heard directly from early career professionals who had taken a variety of routes into manufacturing and engineering. Speakers shared their personal journeys, lessons learned and practical advice for those considering a future in the sector.

Hands on workshops, showcases and competitions

  • Coventry University hydrogen power workshop – Students designed and built hydrogen power cells and used them to power a working model car, gaining insight into clean energy and future propulsion technologies.
  • WorldSkills UK industrial robotics competition – Teams competed to program and operate industrial robots in a real world manufacturing challenge. Following the competition, attendees took part in guided FANUC robot programming sessions with industry experts.
  • ChangeMaker Moments Smart Manufacturing – An interactive session connected students with industry leaders, providing insight into individual career pathways, real experiences and the skills needed to succeed in modern manufacturing.
  • Best of British Showcase – A celebration of British manufacturing excellence, featuring world class design, innovative products and export success stories from across the sector.
Apprenticeship and careers opportunities
  • LISI Aerospace – Showcased apprenticeship routes, graduate pathways and long term career opportunities within advanced manufacturing.
  • Niftylift Apprentice Automation Challenge winners – Delivered a live demonstration from the winning team, highlighting the impact of apprenticeships and skills development in action.

Meet the apprentices
Exhibitors brought apprentices to share first hand experiences of their training, development and career progression.

Graduate level students were also able to explore graduate schemes, live job vacancies and early career opportunities with leading exhibitors.

Event Details

📅 Date: June 5, 2025
⏰ Time: 12:00 – 4:00 PM
📍 Location: Smart Manufacturing Week 2025, Hall 5, NEC Birmingham 

🔍 A dedicated guide highlighted key exhibitors, STEM focused features and companies offering apprenticeships, graduate schemes and job opportunities.

FANUC WorldSkills UK Qualifiers

Taking place at the show, the FANUC WorldSkills UK qualifiers provided an exciting opportunity for young people to compete, develop practical skills and discover their passion for robotics and automation.

WorldSkills UK is an independent charity working in partnership with employers, education providers and governments. Together, they raise standards in apprenticeships and technical education to help more young people achieve the best possible start in work and life.

In collaboration with FANUC, WorldSkills UK hosted qualifiers for the Industrial Robotics competition at Smart Manufacturing and Engineering Week, showcasing technical excellence and future talent in action.

IMechE Automation Challenge

Visitors witnessed the winning team from the Apprentice Automation Challenge exhibit their innovative automation project live at the show.

This collaboration with The Manufacturer highlighted the exceptional skills, creativity and ambition emerging from the next generation of automation professionals.

Changemaker Moments: Smart Manufacturing

Lunch and learn session | Thursday 5 June 2025, 13.00 to 15.00

Smart Manufacturing Week collaborated with ChangeMaker Moments in 2025, delivering an engaging afternoon of learning, discussion and connection between young people and industry leaders.

Discover careers uncovered and future workforce uncovered

This interactive alternative to a traditional panel format removed assumptions and barriers, allowing the audience to gain deeper insight into individual career pathways. Guest speakers from organisations including KONE and The Manufacturer shared real experiences, routes into industry and advice for the future workforce.

Industry insights

Young people worked directly with business leaders to explore how emerging technologies such as sustainable manufacturing, supply chains and artificial intelligence are transforming the manufacturing industry and shaping future roles.

Experience unseen connections

A fresh approach to networking enabled young people and business leaders to connect through a speed mentoring format. Participants explored topics designed to help young people navigate career pathways in a rapidly evolving world of work, while encouraging business leaders to reflect on the role they play in developing future talent.

Coventry University

Workshop: Fuel the Future: Powering tomorrow with hydrogen - 12:00 & 13:00 I Thurs 5th June, IIOT & Connectivity Theatre

This practical, hands on workshop enabled students to build hydrogen power cells and use them to power a working model car, giving insight into clean energy technologies and future transport innovation.

Workshop: Building student skill profiles & work experience partnerships - 13:00 - 13:50 I Thurs 5th June, Leadership & Strategy Theatre

This interactive workshop explored how to create effective student skill profiles and collaborate with employers to design meaningful work experience opportunities. Attendees learned how to align skill development with employer needs and build impactful work experience programmes across different year groups.

Coventry University Stand: 5/N132

The School of Future Transport Engineering showcased the IMechE Formula AI Car, developed and raced by a multidisciplinary team of motorsport, electrical and electronic engineers, demonstrating the application of advanced engineering and autonomous systems in practice.

JoinXR from Fracture Reality 

Stand H84 | 15.00 to 15.20 | Thursday 5 June

Attendees experienced how immersive XR technology was being used to support smarter decision making, faster project sign off and scalable technical skills development.

During this exclusive 20 minute session, visitors explored how leading teams across sectors including subsea engineering and food processing were using immersive technology to:

  • Accelerate design processes and decision making

  • Align cross functional teams with greater clarity

  • Scale technical training and onboarding

  • Reduce costly misunderstandings in complex builds

The session provided a hands on opportunity to see JoinXR in action and engage directly with experts on how immersive technology can streamline processes and deliver measurable results.

A True Festival Experience

FUN

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IMMERSIVE

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MEMORABLE

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REGISTER NOW FOR 2026 AND JOIN THE FUTURE OF SMART MANUFACTURING + ENGINEERING