The Smallpeice Trust

The Smallpeice Trust Inspiring the young people of today to become the changemakers of tomorrow since 1966 - Winner of the 2026 Rooke Award for the public promotion of engineering.

We're delighted to welcome Shirin Dehghan as Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Smallpeice Trust. An engineer, entrep...
04/09/2026

We're delighted to welcome Shirin Dehghan as Chair of the Board of Trustees at The Smallpeice Trust.

An engineer, entrepreneur, investor and CEO, Shirin has spent her career turning bold ideas into successful businesses. From founding telecoms company Arieso and growing it into an international success, to serving on the board of pioneering technology companies, her journey showcases the transformative power of engineering and innovation.

“I am excited and honoured to have been elected Chair of the Board. Engineering and education are both very close to my heart, and the opportunity to help shape the future of young people across the UK, while working alongside such a talented team at Smallpeice, is a rare and wonderful privilege. I feel incredibly lucky to have this opportunity.”

Shirin's experience, insight and passion for technology make her an inspiring addition to our leadership team. We're excited to work together to inspire more young people to explore STEM and become the changemakers of tomorrow.

Read more about Shirin here:
https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/welcoming-shirin-dehghan-as-chair-of-the-board-of-trustees/

We had such a great time at CarFest last weekend!Based in their TechLab over a brilliant three days, we met excited fest...
03/09/2026

We had such a great time at CarFest last weekend!

Based in their TechLab over a brilliant three days, we met excited festival-goers and got stuck into some hands-on engineering with our Crash Test Challenge. The challenge was simple: design and build a bumper that could absorb the impact of a crash. It quickly became very competitive, with young people coming back to beat their personal bests and plenty of sibling rivalry along the way.

One family described the experience as “the best thing their children had done all weekend”, with all three siblings (and Mum!) taking on the challenge over a 30-minute period.

Across the weekend:

370 young learners completed the Crash Test Challenge
560 parents visited our stand
1,050+ people visited us across the three days

But beyond the numbers, it was the conversations and connections that really made the weekend.

We met parents, teachers, Scout leaders, a three-time residential course attendee, a member of the Boys’ Brigade, Cambridge University, Silverstone Museum and many more people who stopped to chat about engineering and the opportunities available to young people.

It was fantastic to see a simple hands-on engineering challenge spark so much curiosity, competition and conversation, and hopefully inspire some future engineers along the way. A huge thank you to everyone who came to see us, had a go, came back for another attempt or stopped for a chat.

We'd like to say a very big thank you to the CarFest team for having us as a regional charity partner and giving us the opportunity to reach so many families over the weekend.

Today we thank Professor Alison Halstead as she steps down as Chair of our Board of Trustees.From joining the Board in 2...
02/09/2026

Today we thank Professor Alison Halstead as she steps down as Chair of our Board of Trustees.

From joining the Board in 2018 to leading the Trust through a transformative chapter as Chair, Alison has helped lay strong foundations for our future. Her leadership has supported the development of our new strategy, strengthened our Board and helped position the Trust for success beyond our 60th anniversary year.

It's been a privilege to work alongside her, and we're grateful for the lasting impact she's had on our charity and the young people we serve.

Thank you, Alison.

https://www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk/professor-alison-halstead-to-hand-over-the-role-of-chair-of-the-smallpeice-trust-board-of-trustees/

That’s a wrap on our summer virtual courses! 🎉 Over the past few weeks, students have taken part in our Scottish Virtua...
31/08/2026

That’s a wrap on our summer virtual courses! 🎉

Over the past few weeks, students have taken part in our Scottish Virtual Engineering Experience with The MacRobert Trust and Virtual Engineering Experience with SC Johnson, tackling engineering challenges, developing new skills and exploring where STEM could take them next.

But making a virtual course happen takes more than just a camera and a screen. A huge thank you to our in-house live streaming team, our STEM deliverers in the studio, and everyone behind the scenes who helped bring these experiences to life for students joining from across the UK.

And of course, thank you to The MacRobert Trust and SC Johnson for supporting these opportunities.

Well done to every young learner who took part, we hope you’re heading into the end of the summer with some new skills, ideas and inspiration for your future in STEM.

Day 1 at CarFest is off to a flying start! 🚗 We’re so pleased to be here as one of CarFest’s 2026 regional charity part...
28/08/2026

Day 1 at CarFest is off to a flying start! 🚗

We’re so pleased to be here as one of CarFest’s 2026 regional charity partners, bringing The Smallpeice Trust’s hands-on approach to STEM to festival-goers all weekend.

Our Crash Test Challenge has been going down a storm, we’ve met loads of brilliant festival-goers already, and there’s plenty more engineering fun to come.

And don’t forget to catch the engineering bug! Our free Engineering Bugs are available from our stand, so come and grab one to take home!

A huge thank you to the CarFest team for having us and for supporting regional charities like ours. We’re looking forward to the rest of the weekend!

Come and find us, have a go at the Crash Test Challenge and catch the engineering bug! ⚙️

This summer, we took STEM into the local community! For the first time, we delivered our hands-on STEM sessions in libr...
28/08/2026

This summer, we took STEM into the local community!

For the first time, we delivered our hands-on STEM sessions in libraries across Coventry, giving young people the chance to build, make, experiment and solve problems in a place that’s free, local and familiar.

We’ve spent 60 years delivering practical STEM experiences in schools, so bringing that experience into community spaces felt like a natural next step. It’s about reaching young people who might not otherwise get the chance to take part in STEM activities and showing them that engineering can be creative, practical and, most importantly, for them.

From building bridges to racing robots, it’s been brilliant to see young people getting stuck in, trying things out and having fun along the way.

A big thank you to the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851 for funding the programme, and to all the libraries, families and young people who made the sessions such a success.

We’re excited to see where we can take community STEM next.

Women belong in engineering. But the numbers still tell a different story. Women make up just 17% of the UK’s engin...
26/08/2026

Women belong in engineering. But the numbers still tell a different story.

Women make up just 17% of the UK’s engineering and technology workforce.

That gap doesn’t begin in the workplace. It starts much earlier, with who gets encouraged to explore STEM, who has access to opportunities, and who can see people like themselves succeeding in engineering.

At The Smallpeice Trust, we’re working to change that.

Through our Girls into Engineering course, we give girls the opportunity to get hands-on with engineering, work alongside industry professionals and experience what a career in STEM can actually look like. Through our Arkwright Engineering Scholarships, we support talented young people with mentoring, industry connections and opportunities to develop their engineering potential.

And through our wider programme of hands-on STEM Days, Engineering Experiences, mentoring and community programmes, we reach thousands of young people each year, helping them build confidence, challenge assumptions and discover what they’re capable of.

Because representation matters. Opportunity matters. And sometimes, seeing someone like you in a career is the difference between thinking “that’s not for me” and “I could do that.”

We don’t just want more women in engineering. We want a future where being a woman is never a reason to think engineering isn’t for you.

We are delighted to announce that The Smallpeice Trust has been named a finalist for Charity of the Year at the National...
25/08/2026

We are delighted to announce that The Smallpeice Trust has been named a finalist for Charity of the Year at the National Charity Today Awards™ 2026.

These recognitions are a reflection of the dedication of our team, supporters and everyone who contributes to our work.

We look forward to celebrating alongside our fellow finalists at the National Charity Today Awards™ Gala Lunch this October.

Thank you to everyone who has been part of our journey.

21/08/2026

How does a train travel at hundreds of miles per hour... without touching the tracks? ✨

This week on Learn with Aoife, we're diving into the incredible world of maglev trains. Using the power of magnets, these futuristic trains actually float above the track, reducing friction and allowing them to travel at astonishing speeds. It might sound like science fiction, but, it's engineering in action.

Watch now and discover the science that's changing the future of transport!

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming 100 incredible female young learners to Loughborough University for our Girl...
19/08/2026

Last week, we had the pleasure of welcoming 100 incredible female young learners to Loughborough University for our Girls into Engineering residential course, once again expertly delivered by our long-standing partners, GE HealthCare and Leonardo.

Across three action-packed days, participants explored the exciting world of engineering through hands-on workshops and real-world challenges. From ultrasound scanning and healthcare product design challenges with GE HealthCare to a carousel of activities including the fundamentals of the electromagnetic spectrum with Leonardo, every session was designed to build confidence, develop new skills and showcase the many exciting opportunities a career in STEM can offer.

Alongside the practical sessions, students also received support and guidance from engineers and industry professionals, gaining valuable insight into different career pathways and seeing first-hand the impact they could make in the future.

A huge thank you to GE HealthCare and Leonardo, whose continued support makes opportunities like this possible. By funding this course and sharing their expertise, time and passion, they're helping to inspire the next generation of female engineers, challenge stereotypes and encourage more young women to see themselves in STEM careers.

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74 Upper Holly Walk
Leamington Spa
CV324JL

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+441926333200

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