STEM Education Programme
Encouraging the next generation of engineers.
We know how varied, fascinating and rewarding a career in engineering can be. With engineering expertise at the heart of who we are, we have a responsibility to secure the future of the engineering profession – and our business – by encouraging the next generation of engineers.
We wondered what inspired our engineers to go into the profession. Some followed in their parents’ footsteps, others were introduced to it in a fun way, but a common theme was that they were introduced to it at an early age. So we developed a programme for school children aged 10+, with fun at its core.
20+
registered Mabey Hire STEM Ambassadors delivering the programme nationally.
9000+
student engagement hours logged since 2023.
2000+
KS2 and KS3 children have had a fun, interactive learning session.
What is the Mabey Hire STEM Education Programme?
It’s an engaging, fun and hands-on programme that gives school children the opportunity to learn basic engineering principles.
The programme is formed of stand-alone sessions, each focussed on a different engineering principle – such as Levers, Structures and Gears. While the programme predominantly features the use of LEGO Education materials, we’ve also developed sessions that can be delivered with common school craft items.
Students also get to experience the future of technology in construction by visiting some of the world’s most iconic structures – such as the Sydney Opera House or Eiffel Tower – in a LEGO VR World, seeking out statistics and facts as they aim to complete tasks.
A community of STEM Ambassadors
We currently have over 20 registered STEM Ambassadors within Mabey Hire delivering the programme nationally, and we’re keen to grow our community further.
We’ve developed a digital platform for our Ambassadors which houses all programme content, providing easier access and allowing the team to monitor and track student engagement.
Running the programme through our STEM Ambassadors allows us to deliver the sessions wherever you are in the UK. This allows children from all communities to take part and be introduced to the exciting world of engineering.
STEM Topics
Our programme brings core engineering concepts to life through fun, hands-on LEGO builds. From levers and gears to pneumatics, pulleys, structures, and wheel & axles, students explore how real-world mechanics work through creative, practical activities. Take a look at the topics we cover here.
Levers
Exploring how levers work by building three LEGO models representing different lever classes, showing how each affects the mechanical advantage.
Main activity – balance beam
Students apply this knowledge by creating a LEGO balance beam and experimenting with different configurations to learn how to calculate weight.
Wheels & Axles
Learning how wheel and axle size affects speed and distance, then exploring how inclined planes can reduce effort by changing the mechanical advantage.
Main activity – freewheeling
Design and build a LEGO car whilst considering the effects of friction, weight, and gravity, to achieve the further distance travelled.
Pulleys
Learning how pulleys transfer force and how different configurations and wheel sizes change the mechanical advantage.
Main activity – tower crane
Students build a LEGO tower crane to explore how pulleys help lift heavy loads and how this translates to the speed of the thread. Could modification of the build improve speed, direction, and stability.
Gears
Exploring how gears transfer force and motion, using LEGO builds to see how drive and driven gears affect speed and power.
Main activity option A – power car
Design and adapt a LEGO car to climb the steepest possible incline.
Main activity option B – gear racer
Build a two-speed LEGO gear racer and use gear-ratio knowledge to create a car that covers 10 metres as fast as possible.
Pneumatics
Learning how compressed air can be transferred into kinetic energy to enable mechanisms to move.
Main activity option A – robot arm
Design and refine a pneumatic LEGO robot arm, improving gripper efficiency for moving components along an assembly line.
Main activity option B – scissor lift
Build and test a pneumatic scissor lift, predicting how pressure requirements change with increased lift height or weight.
Structures
Design, build and test the stability of basic rigid, four-sided, and frame structures through simple LEGO builds.
Main activity option A – tower build
Use these learning as a team to design and build a tower that supports a load at its highest point.
Main activity option B – bridge build
Teams are tasked to design a self-supporting bridge capable of holding a load at its centre.
Don’t just take our word for it!
Hear from the children, teachers, our STEM Ambassadors and our programme partners.