Building Future Innovators in the UK Through The Big Bang Competition
Top engineering firms are stepping forward to support one of the United Kingdom’s most prestigious youth STEM competitions, helping to empower young innovators as they explore science, engineering and technology. EngineeringUK has confirmed that Thales will join Siemens as a headline supporter of The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition in 2026, marking a significant moment for the annual celebration of student-led innovation.
This collaboration highlights a renewed commitment from global technology leaders to nurture the country’s next generation of problem-solvers. The partnership places a spotlight on key national awards, with Thales sponsoring the UK Young Engineer of the Year award and Siemens supporting the UK Young Technologist of the Year award. Alongside these top accolades, the UK Young Scientist of the Year award remains one of the most sought-after prizes, with additional special awards backed by industry partners.
These awards are designed to champion young innovators working on STEM solutions with real-world potential. From early secondary school students to young adults preparing for higher education, the competition encourages creativity, technical curiosity and teamwork.
Empowering Students With STEM Skills
The Big Bang Competition invites young people between 11 and 18 to develop a STEM project independently or with their peers. Entrants can come from state-funded schools, home education settings or community groups. The flexibility allows a broad range of young people to get involved and explore technical and creative topics that resonate with them.
Participants can choose any STEM field, including physics, biology, software engineering, applied mathematics, chemistry, robotics or renewable energy. This open approach embraces curiosity, encouraging students to investigate challenges that matter to them. For the 2026 competition, young innovators will also be asked to consider how their concepts may affect society, the environment and communities, reinforcing ethical and sustainable thinking in design.
Every entrant will receive personalised feedback from STEM professionals, helping them gain confidence and refine their approach. The competition rewards resilience, creativity and analytical thinking, all essential skills for tomorrow’s engineering and technology workforce.
Phillip McShane, Associate Director of the Big Bang at EngineeringUK, highlighted the importance of industry-backed STEM outreach. “We’re delighted to share the latest partnership for The Big Bang Competition. Working with supporters like Thales and Siemens will allow us to reach and inspire more young people to develop a passion for science, engineering and technology. We’re looking forward to working closely with them as we look to crown our big winners of 2026.”
Thales Champions Young Innovators
A key advocate for engineering outreach, Thales is strengthening its involvement across national STEM initiatives. The company is supporting the UK Young Engineer of the Year award for 2026 while also backing Tomorrow’s Engineers Live, an annual conference focused on engineering education and outreach. The event, now in its fifth year, will take place on 10 February 2026 and aims to bring together the engineering community to enhance learning, collaboration and programme development.
James Mackay, Head of STEM in the UK at Thales, underlined the company’s enthusiasm. “At Thales, we’re proud to sponsor The Big Bang Competition because it aligns with our core mission—to inspire innovation and build a future we can all trust. The creativity and determination we see from young people here remind us that the next big breakthrough could come from anyone. Supporting these future innovators is truly exciting for everyone at Thales.”
Thales’ global operations span aerospace, cybersecurity, defence, space technologies and digital solutions. The company has a strong record of nurturing early-career talent, apprenticeships and STEM community schemes, reinforcing why supporting The Big Bang Competition aligns with its vision.
Siemens Advances Technological Curiosity
Siemens is returning to sponsor the UK Young Technologist of the Year award for 2026, encouraging young people who are applying digital solutions, automation or innovative technology to solve pressing challenges. The company has been an ongoing champion of The Big Bang Competition, reflecting its long-standing focus on digital transformation, green energy solutions and STEM workforce development.
Mark Wood, Social Sustainability Lead for Great Britain and Ireland at Siemens, reflected on the competition’s value. “The Big Bang Competition is a truly equitable way to inspire the next generation to put their ideas and creative thinking into solving real world STEM problems. The imagination and passion we see in these projects is awe inspiring and Siemens are immensely proud to support these young minds, nurture their interests and ambitions around using technology to solve contemporary problems.”
Siemens’ involvement complements numerous UK outreach programmes, including apprenticeships, STEM mentoring, technical academies and digital skills programmes, all designed to strengthen national engineering capacity.
Celebrating Achievement At The Big Bang Fair
The winners of the 2026 awards will be announced at a major celebration hosted during The Big Bang Fair, which will return to Birmingham’s NEC from 9 to 11 June 2026. The event brings thousands of school groups together for hands-on demonstrations, laboratory-style workshops and interactive learning experiences across engineering and technology.
The exhibition has become one of the UK’s largest youth STEM showcases, helping students discover new pathways in engineering, sustainability, research and applied science. Teachers and families also benefit from industry-led networking opportunities, encouraging more young people into technical careers.
Alongside the headline awards, the competition includes several special recognitions. These include the IHEEM Innovation in Wellbeing and Healthcare Engineering Award, a fully funded place at the 67th London International Youth Science Forum 2026, the ECITB Teamwork Award, an innovation award from the Intellectual Property Office, and the EUK Education Teacher Award for excellence in mentoring.
These awards illustrate the broad range of scientific, social and technical contributions students can pursue, while also recognising teachers who play a vital role in nurturing emerging talent.
Ground-breaking Finalists And Projects
The competition has a strong track record of sophisticated student work. In 2025, winning projects included an automatic pill dispenser for assisted living and healthcare, a resilient telecommunications solution to support emergency communications, and an exploration into the physics behind karate, applying scientific methodology to sporting performance.
Previous finalists have also addressed global challenges including air quality, water management, materials science, transportation safety and digital agriculture. Several past winners have gone on to secure patents, apprenticeships, university scholarships and international research placements, demonstrating the competition’s professional impact.
Supporting Teachers With Free Classroom Resources
To help educators guide STEM project development, EngineeringUK provides free resources under the Big Bang Challenge Programme. These resources include step-by-step guidance, assessment tools and inspirational classroom materials.
Several multidisciplinary themes are available, ranging from artificial intelligence and robotics to weather science, transportation resilience and air quality monitoring. Teachers can use them to develop cross-curricular learning, hands-on experimentation and teamwork.
The materials help ensure that every student, regardless of background, has access to meaningful STEM development opportunities. Experienced engineers contribute practical recommendations, encouraging real-world project management thinking.
Strengthening The STEM Pipeline
Research from EngineeringUK and other STEM workforce bodies indicates that the United Kingdom must increase its pipeline of skilled engineers and technologists to meet its long-term infrastructure and sustainability goals. Emerging workforce shortages are being seen in transportation, energy systems, advanced manufacturing, digital engineering and scientific research.
Youth engagement programmes like The Big Bang Competition play an important role in broadening diversity, improving access to role models and supporting early technical development. Industry-backed STEM outreach is increasingly recognised as a strategic need, not just an educational initiative.
Positioning STEM As A National Priority
Encouraging students to explore cutting-edge fields such as AI, digital twins, robotics, sustainable aviation, construction technology and biomedical engineering builds national competitiveness. The skills developed through STEM competitions help young people navigate practical project management, creative innovation, teamwork and ethical design.
Global research from the Royal Academy of Engineering and UNESCO highlights that countries with strong STEM outreach tend to secure more innovation-led investment, productive industry sectors and sustainable development outcomes. Empowering young innovators enhances future prosperity as science and engineering increasingly drive national economies.
A Bright Future For UK Innovation
Entries for the 2026 Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Competition are now open. Schools, teachers, industry volunteers and community organisations are encouraged to take part, sponsor or exhibit.
