Over 1,500 Lincolnshire Pupils Experience Hands-On Careers at Construction & Engineering Week 2026

More than 1,500 schoolchildren from Lincolnshire received practical exposure to careers in construction and engineering during Construction & Engineering Week 2026, held over three days at the Lincolnshire Showground. Now in its 22nd year, the event aims to inspire young people aged 10 to 18 by providing immersive activities delivered by industry employers, highlighting the wide range of job opportunities within these sectors.

Students engaged in hands-on trade experiences including carpentry, bricklaying, welding, electrical, and mechanical engineering. They also operated plant and equipment commonly used in construction and engineering projects. The event featured interactive sessions on innovation, sustainability, and emerging technologies such as fusion power, broadening pupils’ understanding of future career pathways.

Teachers, employers, apprentices, and industry representatives praised the event for connecting young people with real-world roles. Following the 2025 event, 79% of participants reported increased awareness of employer expectations, 71% felt they had developed relevant industry skills, and 63% were more likely to consider careers in construction or engineering.

Year Six pupils from Hartsholme Academy expressed amazement at activities like laser scanning, which was part of Altrad’s “seeing the unseen” demonstration. Karen Miller, a teaching assistant at the school, described the event as creating a “wow factor” among the children. She said: “This was our first time at the event and we loved the fact there were so many different activities. It was really worth coming. We split into five different groups who all did totally different activities, which was nice for when we got back to then share their ideas and experiences.” She added, “Hands-on activities are really important for the children to keep them engaged and give them those experiences, rather than just talking to them. They got to try out things that they would never have tried anywhere else, like the laser scanning, which they would not have had a clue existed before this.”

Ashley Frankish, a Year Six teacher at Sibsey Primary School, highlighted the value of practical STEM exercises such as a teamwork activity using giant Lego blocks organised by Anglian Water’s partner companies. He commented: “It’s really important for us to bring the children out to events like this, exposing them to different careers and opportunities. The event helps inspire and show children that enjoy the more practical hands-on activities that it’s not all education based, that there are other career paths they can take.”

Over 80 companies from Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, the Humber, and neighbouring regions participated to promote careers and trades in construction and engineering. Many brought apprentices to assist with activities. Mechanical engineering firm PJD, part of the Ropsley Group, showcased welding and pipefitting through interactive demonstrations.

One apprentice, Matty Watson, 18, from Grimsby, who completed the ECITB Scholarship programme in 2025 at CATCH before joining PJD as a pipefitter apprentice, shared his perspective: “When I was the age of these kids, I didn’t get the chance to do anything like this to inspire me. When I was in school, I didn’t have a clue what I wanted to do. It’s great to get them early to give them ideas of what they can do in the future. It was great to be able to come and help, teaching them how to make stuff and use their imagination to engineer things.”

PJD also offered pupils the chance to use a virtual welding simulator and participate in a chocolate welding activity, where children melted Milky Bars with hot water to create boxes. A Year Six pupil from Bassingham Primary School said: “I really enjoyed getting to melt chocolate to make a box and then test it to see if it was sturdy enough to hold a bottle of water on it. I also learnt about how you form tiles on a roof and how to build a chimney on a house of bricks. I really enjoyed the day as I’m thinking of becoming an engineer in the future.”

Construction & Engineering Week is free for primary and secondary schools and is organised by the Lincoln Group Training Association (LGTA) and Abbey Access Training, in partnership with local employers. The event’s principal sponsors include the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board (ECITB), and the Humber Energy Board. Support sponsors are Greater Lincolnshire Careers Hub, Lindum Group, and J McCann & Co Ltd. ARCO served as print sponsor, providing every child with a hi-vis vest to wear during and after the event.

Andrew Hockey, CEO of the ECITB, emphasised the importance of the event: “The construction and engineering construction industries have inspiring long-term careers to offer. The challenge is ensuring more young people know it. Construction & Engineering Week is a great example of industry coming together to help young people gain valuable insight into potential career routes, empowering them through practical, hands-on activities that make these jobs feel more real and accessible. Letting young people try activities related to different trades helps demonstrate the breadth of the industry in ways words cannot, helping pupils find disciplines that capture their imagination.”

Indrani Banerjee-Jones, Chief Financial Officer at the CITB, added: “Construction and Engineering Week is a great way for CITB, ECITB and industry to work together to showcase the rewarding careers available and encourage young people to consider a future career in construction and engineering construction. We would like to thank everyone involved for supporting and participating in the event. It was fantastic to witness first-hand the enthusiasm of the attendees. Our Construction Workforce Outlook report forecasts that the construction industry needs an average of 41,200 extra workers across the UK per year to meet demand, making events like this more important than ever to showcase what is on offer and inspire the next generation.”

Iain Harris, Managing Director of the Humber Energy Board, said: “Events such as Construction & Engineering Week 2026 are vital in helping young people understand the exciting opportunities available across engineering, construction, energy and manufacturing. As the Humber continues to attract investment, developing a strong pipeline of skilled local talent is more important than ever. We are proud to support an initiative that brings industry and education together and helps inspire the workforce of the future.”

Further details about Construction & Engineering Week 2026, including a list of participating companies, can be found at https://www.ecitb.org.uk/construction-engineering-week/.