About 1066 Future Engineer
The “1066 Engineer” project, led by East Sussex County Council, delivered a series of engaging after-school engineering clubs for primary school pupils in Hastings, one of the most deprived areas in East Sussex. The initiative aimed to inspire curiosity in engineering, raise awareness of local career opportunities, and build long-term engineering capital among under-served communities.
Over the course of the project, after-school clubs were delivered across three terms in two primary schools. Each club cohort participated in hands-on engineering activities, visited local engineering firms, and engaged in activities with T-level students at a local sixth form college. These experiences helped demystify engineering and introduced pupils to a range of disciplines including aerospace, civil, and mechanical engineering.
Six engineers were trained to lead the clubs, receiving coaching in communication and safeguarding. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive: 100% of engineers rated the training and project support as “very good” and expressed interest in future outreach. Pupils responded with enthusiasm -91% enjoyed the clubs, and 80% reported learning something new about engineering. Notably, the number of pupils aspiring to become engineers rose from 6% to 26% by the end of the project.
Key outcomes
The project successfully reached its target audience, with 100% of participants coming from schools in the top 30% most deprived areas nationally. Nearly 30% of participants were girls, with one school achieving over 57% female participation.
Key lessons included the importance of flexibility in delivery, the challenge of recruiting engineers due to time constraints, and the value of strong school partnerships. The project demonstrated that with the right support, engineers can be powerful role models and young people can develop lasting interest and confidence in STEM.
