At Fairfield Control Systems, our extensive work in the engineering sector places us in an excellent position to help encourage the engineers of the future. We do this by volunteering in STEM education with the IET.

In our work, we specialise in designing, installing, commissioning, and servicing industrial control solutions and industry 4.0 technologies. This covers instrumentation, control and automation systems. At Fairfield Control Systems & working with our sister company, Fairfield Engineering Solutions we have recently upgraded, maintained and continue to provide support to the famous Falkirk Wheel, the only boat lift of its kind working in the world. 

The work we do as volunteers in STEM education is hands-on, which places us in classrooms or community settings and allows us to create and deliver exciting, interactive STEM activities for a broad range of children - including those who have never had this type of opportunity before. We bring STEM to life for them to inspire the next generation of engineers.

One of our responsibilities takes us to schools, where we host interactive STEM sessions using the STEM kits we have developed in conjunction with the IET. We work directly with the students, helping them grasp engineering concepts in a direct way. The kits are not abstract exercises, instead, their unique quality comes from being built around real-world engineering projects Fairfield has worked on.

These kits focus on different aspects of our work; some spotlight flood barriers or hydraulics. Another teaches the principles behind automated systems, such as those used in large-scale manufacturing. When we introduce students to the kits, we walk them through the technical aspects and guide them while they explore the practical applications of the skills they’re learning.

Outside of the classroom, Fairfield works with the IET on a range of media projects. An exciting moment was when one of our engineers took part in a podcast aimed at young listeners. This event was a chance to share the story behind how they got into engineering, the hurdles they faced, and some of the great projects they worked on at Fairfields. We wanted to show students that engineers aren’t just people in hard hats or lab coats; we are problem solvers who get to work on things that matter. Through these stories, we hope to make engineering more relatable and less intimidating for school children.

Another excellent project was the IET.TV Kids Show, a light-hearted programme where engineers take part in a game where children try to guess our professions. The show was a lot of fun and served a bigger purpose: challenging stereotypes about what engineers look like and what we do. It’s all about showing the diverse fields we work in, from designing sustainable systems to creating robotics and the IET.TV Kids Show helped children imagine themselves in these roles one day.

We also sponsor the LEGO League. One of our engineers volunteered as a mentor to help local school teams develop their projects. The league isn’t simply about programming and robotics; it aims to encourage creativity, teamwork, and resilience. Seeing the students devise their own engineering solutions, often with a great deal of creativity and passion, reminded me of why I became an engineer in the first place.

Fairfield’s collaboration with the IET is about making STEM accessible and engaging for young people. The IET provides advice, support for safeguarding practices and guidance on running STEM engagement through its volunteer network.

Whatever the method, be it hands-on kits, school outreach, fun media projects, or competitions like the LEGO League, we always have the same goal. That is to inspire curiosity and creativity in the next generation of engineers.

We’re not just showing them that STEM is important. We’re showing them how it can be a path to a bright and exciting future.