More than enrichment provision

Giving young people a platform to think, operate and collaborate like a business.

Expeditionary learning

FIRST Tech Challenge UK empowers young people to develop technical knowledge and soft skills whilst broadening understanding of STEM education and careers. Taking on a global challenge supported by industry mentors, young people:

Develop new skills outside of their comfort zone
Collaborate across year groups
Understand education and career pathways
Engage with employers, further and higher education
Earn team awards and individual accreditation
Become well-rounded citizens empowered to own their future

“FIRST Tech Challenge UK enables our academies to deliver an engaging enrichment programme, career development opportunities and supports the STEM curriculum. The quality and reach of their programme is excellent.”

Jemima, Enrichment Manager – National Enrichment Lead, Ormiston Academies Trust

Accredited awards at the highest level

All FIRST Tech Challenge UK participants can achieve an Industrial Cadets Gold Award and British Science Association CREST Gold. Our e-learning platform and Engineering Notebook make this process super easy.

Virtual and remote learning

‘Makerspace’ e-learning blends digital content with hands-on sessions.

Teams – access curriculum-mapped resources and virtual robotics simulator created by teachers, industry and young people
Teachers – receive confidence-boosting training and content mapped to Key Stages 3+4 and Gatsby Benchmarks
Mentors – access training and team content

More about Makerspace

FIRST Tech Challenge UK -strategy training

FIRST Tech Challenge UK -Autonomous tutorial

FIRST Tech Challenge UK - Mentor training

New robotics simulator

Developed with our partner Bloomberg and Computer Science Teachers, our new virtual robotics simulator launches nationwide in January 2022. Give you and your teams the confidence to develop core Computer Science principles and coding skills.

By following 6 self-paced lessons mapped to the KS3 Computer Science curriculum, you can support students as they get to grips with navigating a robot through a series of field challenges and apply their knowledge to the FIRST Tech Challenge.

Tailored provision

Whether you’re working in mainstream, alternative, or special educational needs settings there’s a provision for you. Choose from lunch-time sessions, after-school clubs or in timetable delivery.

Single team

Perfect to test the ropes and ease into the programme. One kit serves up to 15 young people.

Get started

Multi-team

Multiple teams fosters competition, supports peer-to-peer mentoring and enhances performance.

Grow participation

Full cohort

Mapped to key curriculum points at KS3+4 FIRST Tech Challenge UK can be delivered in timetable at scale.

Speak to our education team

Global community

FIRST connects over 600,000 young people globally each year. Our hub network brings together champions schools, businesses, universities and volunteers to help build more than robots.

Mentors

Mentors are role models from industry who guide teams as they build, challenge and discover.

Discover mentoring

Hubs

Champion Schools support local teams with industry partners, STEM hubs and universities.

Find your local hub

Social media

Rallying collaboration over competition, teams use social media to connect with the global community.

Browse our social wall

Supporting your recovery

This season’s timeline and provision is geared to easily slot into your school year and adapt as you need it to. With our online provision teams have constant access to progress their skills and robot this season.

Build more than robots!

Take on the UK’s most epic STEM enrichment programme for young people. We’re ready to support your team and make STEM less intimidating and more inclusive.