Project
A STEM and enterprise programme focused on sustainability and youth empowerment - nearly 35,000 students nationwide have benefitted so far!
Secondary
The Big Ideas Programme is an annual STEM and enterprise programme that challenges students in English secondary schools to develop creative solutions to real-world sustainability issues.
Delivered in schools and supported by a network of business partners, the programme connects students with industry mentors who guide them as they work in teams to develop their own “Big Ideas” around the environmental challenges they care about most. It’s a flexible, structured programme with ready-to-use resources, making it easy to embed into STEM lessons, enrichment or careers provision while building students’ creativity, teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills.
Students submit their ideas to the Big Ideas Competition, with opportunities to progress to Regional Finals hosted at universities and a prestigious National Final at the Palace of Westminster in London. Along the way, students gain valuable experience presenting and pitching to professionals, and those who reach Regional Finals are awarded a CREST Bronze Award.
The programme is aligned with key frameworks including the UN Sustainable Development Goals, Skills Builder (Impact Level 4), the UK Sustainability and Climate Change Strategy, and the Gatsby Benchmarks, supporting both curriculum and careers outcomes.
Capacity
Open to schools in England.
The programme typically works with 60–150 students per school (with flexibility for larger groups) and reaches around 3,000 students nationally each year.
Cost
A subsidised participation fee of £750 covers the full journey from an in-school Big Ideas Day through to potential progression to the National Final (held annually in August).
Improve engagement, interest or enjoyment in STEM subjects
Develop engineering employability skills
Improve awareness and aspirations for STEM-related study and careers
Challenge stereotypes by showing the diversity of disciplines, people and skills involved in engineering
The Gatsby benchmarks are a framework for good careers guidance for schools across all of England and in some areas across the rest of the UK. This experience helps your school to reach the following benchmarks:
The essential skills every young person needs to succeed in education and their future career. Find out more at the Skills Builder Partnership. This experience builds the following skills:
Planning - Setting goals and designing routes to achieve them
Creativity - Using imagination and generating new ideas
Leadership - Supporting, encouraging and motivating others to achieve a shared goal
Listening - Receiving, retaining and processing information
Problem solving - Finding solutions to challenges
Speaking - Transmitting information or ideas
Adapting - Overcoming challenges and setbacks to achieve goals
Teamwork - Working cooperatively with others to achieve a shared goal
What the teachers sayLog in to write a testimonialWe would love to read all about your time with this experience!
Secondary
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Secondary
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Secondary
A fun introduction to STEM project work! Developed by the British Science Association, students complete either a single activity or a series of linked challenges with clear real-world contexts.
