GEMX Summer Engineering Experience Day inspires future engineers
10 July 2026
Over 200 people attended the GEMX Summer Engineering Experience Day, hosted this week by North West Regional College (NWRC) at its Springtown Campus, with a fun-filled day of hands-on STEM and engineering activities.
The event brought together engineering and manufacturing companies, training providers and industry representatives from across the North West to showcase the exciting opportunities available within the sector. Families from across the region attended, including the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Councillor Grace Uí Niallais, who visited the event with her two sons.
Speaking after the event, Mayor Uí Niallais, said: "It was wonderful to see so many young people and their families engaging with engineering, technology and innovation in such a hands-on and enjoyable way. Events like the GEMX Summer Engineering Experience Day play an important role in inspiring the next generation and helping them discover the exciting opportunities that exist within our local engineering and manufacturing sectors. Congratulations to GEMX, North West Regional College and all the participating businesses and organisations for delivering such a successful event that showcases the talent, creativity and potential of our young people."
Children aged between 7 and 12 had the opportunity to take part in a wide range of interactive STEM activities designed to spark curiosity and creativity while introducing them to the world of engineering and manufacturing. Throughout the day, participants coded robots, explored virtual reality systems, watched 3D printing in action, built and raced electric vehicles and engaged directly with employers representing industry across the North West.
The event provided young people with a unique opportunity to put on personal protective equipment (PPE) and meet engineers and industry professionals, offering a real insight into careers within the sector and helping to break down perceptions about what engineering and manufacturing involve.
A highlight of the day was the ‘The Big Bridge Challenge’, delivered through the Smart Nano Consortium, where children worked together to design, build and test a large-scale structure. The activity encouraged teamwork, problem-solving and engineering thinking in a fun and engaging environment.
Joanne Sweeney, Project Director of GEMX, expressed her delight at the success of the event: "We can always rely on the support of our companies and partners from within the GEMX network, but today we were hoping that the wider public would be interested in what we do. It was fantastic to see the interest and enthusiasm from all the children – and parents – who attended. Hopefully we have inspired some of these children to think about engineering as a pathway for the future."
GEMX works actively with primary and post-primary schools throughout the North West, delivering programmes such as MakeME for secondary schools and FutureGEMs for primary schools. These initiatives aim to inspire young people, develop STEM skills and raise awareness of the exciting career opportunities available within engineering and manufacturing.
The Summer Engineering Experience Day demonstrated the strength of collaboration between education and industry in the region and highlighted the commitment of local employers, educators and training providers to nurturing the next generation of engineers and innovators.
For more information about GEMX programmes and opportunities, please contact [email protected]