Pearson Engineering’s STEAM ambassadors recently supported On the Up’s Upskill for Schools programme, an initiative designed to help primary school pupils develop entrepreneurial thinking, innovation skills, and confidence.
Two seven-week programmes, delivered at a primary school in the North East of England, encouraged pupils to apply creative thinking to develop an innovative product, which stemmed from the selection of random household items.
Vicki Stone, Founder & Director at On the Up, who runs On the Up (North-East) CIC, said, “It was great working with Pearson Engineering and their staff volunteers. All the volunteers team rolled up their sleeves and got stuck in, attending the school each week. The children rose to the challenge and learnt so much about careers, manufacturing and even robots!”
Two seven-week programmes, delivered at a primary school in the North East of England, encouraged pupils to apply creative thinking to develop an innovative product, which stemmed from the selection of random household items.
In the opening sessions, Pearson Engineering’s STEAM ambassadors provided an introduction to Pearson Engineering, sharing insights into their work, Front-End Equipment and robotics engineering. To engage the pupils’ creativity from the outset, they were tasked with designing a robot that could assist with everyday tasks. The inventive ideas included robots that could cook breakfast, assist unwell individuals at home, and even help complete homework.
Over the subsequent weeks of each programme, the focus shifted to developing their chosen household items into another practical product. Pupils explored product naming, advertising strategies, pricing, and ways to differentiate their products through innovation.
The final week culminated in a Dragon’s Den-style pitch, where each team presented their product to Pearson Engineering’s STEAM ambassadors, who acted as judges. Some of the impressive concepts included:
- An AI paintbrush designed to ensure paint never goes over the lines
- A multifunctional wooden spoon capable of cooking any meal
- A lunchbox with compartments to keep food hot on one side and cold on the other
- Spy sunglasses with multiple disguises for various situations
- Personalised gardening gloves tailored to the user’s needs
One of Pearson Engineering’s STEAM ambassadors, who is a Learning & Development Manager said,
“The ‘On the Up’ programme is an incredibly valuable initiative for schools, introducing primary-aged children to vital concepts in marketing, product design, and teamwork at an early stage.
I found the programme to be hugely beneficial for the young people involved. They developed confidence, freedom of thought, and contributed key ideas in every session. Activities like this are essential for embedding STEAM learning in the classroom, helping to nurture creativity alongside technical thinking.
For local engineering companies, such as Pearson Engineering and Responsive Engineering to be supporting this programme isn’t just about giving back, it’s an investment in future innovators, right here in our community.”
