Worcestershire County Council’s Early Careers team has teamed up with Specsavers to launch the latest Worcestershire Primary STEM Challenge.
Delivered through the Council’s Skills and Employability Service and supported by STEMworks, the challenge gives KS2 primary and middle schoolchildren across Worcestershire the opportunity to put their creativity, engineering and problem-solving skills to the test.
This year’s Challenge has been set by Specsavers, which, with its fulfilment centre, is the Wyre Forest’s largest employer. The project has taken inspiration from the company’s iconic “Should’ve Gone to Specsavers” marketing slogan.
Working in teams, pupils will use science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills to design and build a moving shop window display that brings a Specsavers advert to life.
Jayne Cole, HR Business Partner at Specsavers Fulfilment Service, said, “At Specsavers, innovation, creativity and teamwork are at the heart of everything we do, so we’re delighted to be setting this year’s Primary STEM Challenge. We want pupils to think big, explore engineering and design, and bring their ideas to life through STEM. As a major employer in Worcestershire, we’re passionate about inspiring the next generation and helping young people see the exciting opportunities that STEM-related careers can offer. We can’t wait to see the creative solutions schools across Worcestershire develop.”
The Challenge will be delivered in schools by STEMworks, with teams designing, building and testing their ideas before submitting them for judging. The most successful entries will progress to the county finals, where pupils will showcase their work and compete to be crowned Worcestershire Primary STEM Challenge champions.
Worcestershire County Councillor Dan Boatright-Greene, Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Business and Skills, said, “Having judged last year’s Primary STEM Challenge final, I was blown away by the creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills on display. That’s what makes this Challenge so special. It gives young people the opportunity to tackle real-world problems while connecting with some of Worcestershire’s leading employers. It’s fantastic to have Specsavers setting this year’s Challenge and inspiring the next generation to think differently, work together and explore the exciting opportunities STEM can offer. If last year’s finalists were anything to go by, I’m looking forward to seeing a real spectacle of STEM talent.”
Managed by Early Careers Worcestershire, part of Worcestershire County Council’s Skills and Employability Service, the Primary STEM Challenge has been inspiring young people across Worcestershire for almost a decade. Thousands of pupils have taken part in employer-led projects designed to connect classroom learning with future careers.
Matt Tope, Early Careers Worcestershire Programme Manager, added, “The Primary STEM Challenge is one of the highlights of our year. It allows us to bring careers education and STEM learning directly into classrooms across Worcestershire. We’re delighted to be working with Specsavers this year and helping young people see just how creative, exciting and relevant STEM can be.”
The Worcestershire Primary STEM Challenge runs throughout the academic year before culminating in county finals at Kidderminster College and Yamazaki Mazak in Worcester in summer 2027. Finalists will present their creations to a panel of judges from education and industry, with teams competing to be crowned Worcestershire Primary STEM Challenge champions and celebrate their achievements at a special awards ceremony.
Schools wishing to take part in this year’s Primary STEM Challenge can contact the Early Careers Worcestershire team by emailing CEC@worcestershire.gov.uk.
