NEWS

STEMFest Leeds Set to Inspire 2,000 Young People Through Hands-On STEM Experiences

With just weeks to go until STEMFest Leeds 2026, RTC North is preparing to welcome schools from across the region for two days of hands-on activities, inspiring demonstrations and meaningful encounters with employers working across science, technology, engineering and maths. Organised by the Yorkshire & Humber STEM Hub and delivered by RTC North, the event will shine a spotlight on the breadth of STEM careers available to young people in and around Leeds.

Taking place on 1–2 July at North Church in Leeds, STEMFest Leeds will welcome around 2,000 pupils and 60 organisations for an exciting celebration of STEM. Primary and secondary school pupils attending the festival can look forward to immersive, interactive experiences that bring classroom learning to life while opening their eyes to the wide range of careers and opportunities available across the sector.

The event is designed to connect young people directly with businesses and professionals, helping them understand how STEM skills translate into real-world roles. Through conversations, demonstrations and hands-on challenges, pupils will be encouraged to ask questions about the different opportunities STEM can offer for their future.

Support from organisations including STERIS, National Cyber Security Centre, Made Smarter and Cummins is helping make STEMFest Leeds possible, demonstrating a shared commitment to inspiring the next generation and raising awareness of the region’s STEM career pathways.

STEMFest Leeds will feature a series of interactive, employer-led zones designed to help young people explore STEM through real-world challenges and practical activities. These include Space & Travel, Technology, Environment & Energy, and Manufacturing & Engineering, each offering a different perspective on how STEM shapes the world around us and where future careers could begin.

Alongside the main exhibition, the festival will also offer workshops and experiences designed to broaden students’ understanding of where STEM can take them. Highlights include an immersive planetarium experience and a Mars mapping activity led by Jim Christensen, former Director of Education at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center.

To kick-start the event, STEMFest Leeds will also host a Business Breakfast featuring British entrepreneur and inventor Ruth Amos, bringing together participating organisations and supporters ahead of the event.

Dawn Ross, Liaison coordinator at the STEM Hub, commented:

“This is our third year delivering STEMFest in the Yorkshire region and it’s fantastic to see how it continues to grow. We’re passionate about giving young people meaningful, hands-on experiences and the opportunity to meet employers who can inspire their future career choices.”

Discover more by visiting: stem-hub.co.uk/stemfest