Rethinking Futures Inspiring the Next Generation at PlantWorx 2025
There’s something stirring in the heart of the East Midlands. From 23 to 25 September 2025, Newark Showground will be transformed into a hub of innovation, teamwork and youthful ambition as over 200 students descend on PlantWorx 2025 for Rethinking Futures® – a ground-breaking initiative aimed at bridging the chasm between the classroom and the construction industry.
Crafted to combat the growing skills shortage across construction, engineering, and plant operations, Rethinking Futures® does more than talk about careers. It puts young people right at the centre of the action, tasking them with building, thinking critically, collaborating, and showing what they can do in front of seasoned professionals.
Hands-On from the Get-Go
The centrepiece of Rethinking Futures® is a live materials handling challenge that mirrors real-world plant machinery operations. Think cranes, HIABs, grab lorries and excavators. But instead of 10-tonne machines, student teams get creative with model-building kits, designing and constructing miniature mechanisms that can lift and move objects using provided materials.
What sets this initiative apart is its student-led ethos. Each team – drawn from schools and colleges across Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and South Yorkshire – is in full control of the design and build process. While guidance is available, the emphasis remains on letting students steer the ship. As part of the experience, participants are encouraged to document their build journey through video, which will be screened as part of a dynamic showcase during PlantWorx.
As Stuart Favill, founder of Rethinking Futures® and Operations Manager at PlantWorx, explained: “Rethinking Futures® gives students a genuine, hands-on experience that connects them to the real world of construction and engineering. It puts them in charge of designing, building, problem-solving and presenting their ideas in front of industry. This kind of practical engagement helps build confidence, teamwork and awareness of where a career in the sector could lead.”
More than Just a Challenge
While the live build competition on Tuesday 23rd September is the headline act, the wider impact of Rethinking Futures® lies in its growing role as a careers engagement platform. Beyond the competition arena, students will have access to an array of industry professionals, training providers and apprentices.
This isn’t about dry PowerPoint presentations. It’s about real conversations with real people – many of whom have walked a similar path. Apprentices will share what it’s really like on-site. Engineers will talk about their early inspirations. And companies will lay out practical options for school leavers, from technical training to full-blown university-backed programmes.
Backed by Industry Heavyweights
You don’t build a future without help – and Rethinking Futures® has amassed an impressive roster of partners and sponsors. Headline sponsor Murphy Group is joined by leading names like Wirtgen Group, Lindum Group, and AMEY Briggs. Industry associations including the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA) are also actively supporting the project.
Behind the scenes, a whole ecosystem of educational, governmental and training organisations is lending its support, creating what could be one of the most comprehensive school-to-career events the sector has seen in recent years. And there are no signs of slowing down: the goal is to involve up to 20 colleges, training providers and universities to provide students with a full 360-degree view of what a future in construction could look like.
Laying the Foundations for Career Awareness
For many of the 12 to 18-year-olds attending, this event will be their first encounter with the construction world outside of textbooks and TV. The aim? To make a lasting impression. And it seems to be working. Schools are flocking to take part, with 18 teams already registered for the build challenge and more on the way.
Several additional schools, while not taking part in the model-building element, have still registered to attend the careers day, keen to ensure their students aren’t left out of what promises to be a pivotal learning opportunity.
“We’re very grateful to all the companies, colleges and organisations supporting Rethinking Futures® and helping to make the challenge a meaningful experience for every student involved,” Favill added.
Spotlight on Student Day
PlantWorx 2025 isn’t just for budding engineers. Thursday 25th September is officially Student Day, opening the gates wide to anyone with a curiosity about construction. Schools, colleges, youth groups, training providers, and even families are welcome to join in the fun.
And it really is a hands-on experience. Visitors can get up close with live machine demos, chat with current apprentices, and explore interactive exhibits showcasing everything from robotics to sustainability in modern construction. The best part? Entry is free, though it’s worth noting that under-16s will need to be accompanied by an adult.
While separate from the Rethinking Futures® competition, Student Day builds on the same principle: making construction tangible, exciting, and accessible.
Why Rethinking Futures® Matters
The skills gap in construction is no small matter. According to CITB’s latest Construction Skills Network report, the UK will need over 250,000 additional construction workers by 2027 to meet growing infrastructure demands. Yet interest among young people has been historically low, in part due to misconceptions about the sector.
Initiatives like Rethinking Futures® are flipping that script. By focusing on creativity, collaboration and real-world interaction, they offer a new, engaging narrative about what careers in construction can offer – one where purpose, innovation and progression take centre stage.
Getting Involved
Educators, parents, and industry professionals keen to get involved can visit the Rethinking Futures website or the PlantWorx portal to register. With demand already high and a cap on team numbers, early registration is recommended. And with industry support continuing to grow, 2025 looks set to be the biggest and most impactful edition of the event yet.
Whether you’re a teacher looking to inspire, a student dreaming of designing machines, or a construction leader hoping to invest in the next generation, Rethinking Futures® offers an exciting, proactive way to make those connections happen.
A Bright Horizon for Construction Careers
Rethinking Futures® at PlantWorx 2025 isn’t just a competition or a careers day – it’s a spark. A chance for young minds to see what’s possible, to get their hands dirty (figuratively, and maybe literally), and to realise that the world of construction is wide open to innovation, teamwork and talent.
If the goal is to build a future-ready workforce, then this event is laying the first brick in the right place.
