NEWS

This year, RTC North helped bring chemical engineering to life for hundreds of young people through the delivery of DiscoverChemEngLIVE workshops in secondary schools across the North East with RTC’s STEMHub team.

Led and funded by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE), and delivered in partnership with All About Futures and RTC North’s STEMHub team, the programme engaged more than 700 Year 8 students across the North East through 22 practical, full-day workshops designed to spark curiosity, build confidence and introduce pupils to the real-world impact of chemical, biochemical and process engineering. Across Scotland, the North East, Yorkshire and Humber, and Merseyside and Cheshire, the wider programme has reached almost 2,000 students.

The programme – funded by the IChemE  - was provided at no cost to participating state-funded schools, helping more students access hands-on STEM learning and explore career pathways they may not have previously considered.

RTC North’s role included engaging and coordinating participating schools, organising regional delivery, supporting volunteers and delivering the practical Challenge Days. The sessions were shaped to be interactive, energetic and accessible, showing pupils that engineering is not only technical, but also creative, collaborative and central to solving some of society’s biggest challenges.

During each workshop, students took part in a series of fast-paced, practical and team-based activities. They explored how engineers transform everyday raw materials, including seaweed, graphite and sand, into products that society relies on.

Through these challenges, pupils applied creativity, communication, collaboration and problem-solving to sustainability-focused tasks, considering how engineers develop solutions that can improve lives, support communities and protect the planet.

For many students, the workshops offered a first introduction to chemical engineering and the breadth of careers available within the sector. By connecting classroom learning to practical applications, the programme helped young people recognise how their existing interests and skills could link to future STEM pathways.

North East programme impact:

• 22 full-day workshops delivered
• 700+ Year 8 students engaged through practical STEM activities
• Schools engaged across Tees Valley, Newcastle, Sunderland, Northumberland and Durham
• Supported by 10 volunteers from IChemE

IChemE volunteers and STEM Ambassadors brought the workshops to life by sharing real-world experiences, career journeys and insights into their roles across the profession. Their involvement helped students connect classroom learning with the world of work, making engineering more relatable and accessible. By providing first-hand perspectives on the diverse opportunities available in chemical engineering, they inspired young people to imagine themselves pursuing rewarding careers in the sector.

"Discover ChemEng is helping to inspire the next generation of chemical engineers by showcasing opportunities in areas where the profession is driving growth in emerging industries. This is vital in encouraging young people to consider a career that is both rewarding and essential to tackling society's biggest challenges. Over the past three years, IChemE’s Discover ChemEng activity has helped contribute to a 48% increase in UK applications to chemical engineering courses, while 33% of applicants last year were female, demonstrating its impact in attracting a more diverse future workforce." 

Rachel Bibby, Director of Member Experience and Knowledge, IChemE

“Delivering the DiscoverChemEng LIVE Challenge days has been really rewarding. The course materials were great, and enabled students of all abilities and backgrounds to learn about Chemical Engineering through a series of engaging activities. The challenge days were supported by IChemE volunteers, who helped bring the students’ learning to life by providing real-world context for the topics they explored.” 

Josh Minto, Education Relationships Manager at RTC North

The programme also supported the development of transferable skills, including teamwork, communication, creativity and problem-solving, while improving pupils understanding of chemical engineering and the different routes into the profession.

The impact of the programme has shown the value of giving young people meaningful, hands-on exposure to chemical engineering. Building on this success, the DiscoverChemEng LIVE School Challenge days will run again next year to reach even more young people and continue showing that chemical engineering is everywhere and is for everyone.

Discover more about DiscoverChemEng at: www.icheme.org/education-career/discoverchemeng/