Rochester Bridge Trust is calling on secondary schools across Kent and Medway to apply to be part of the pilot of a major new educational programme aimed at educating the next generation of engineers.
The Engineering Enrichment Schools Programme, which opens to applications today (9 March), will provide a £10,000 payment split over two years to successful schools. This will help facilitate engineering and maths enrichment to students.
The funding will come with a wealth of support with hands-on practical sessions, challenges, clubs and competitions for students, as well as access to the Trust’s library of education materials.
Students will get a behind-the-scenes look at how engineers maintain iconic structures like Rochester Bridge to build their practical knowledge. They’ll also get the opportunity to tackle their own engineering challenges, such as assembling the Trust’s twelve-metre Let’s Build a Bridge kit.
The Trust wants to create a clear pipeline for the next generation of engineers, giving them the knowledge and experience to inspire them to pursue engineering careers. Under the Engineering Enrichment Schools Programme, pupils will have access to engineering-related activities from primary school up to the time they leave school.
Stephen Sharp, Education Manager at Rochester Bridge Trust, said: “Our aim with the pilot of this ambitious project is to reach young people who might not have that awareness of what engineering is, despite it being a great career path for them. The Trust recognises the need to engage students at an early point of their time at school, starting from the end of primary school, and then continuing activities through secondary school.
“Engineering is one of the most important and impactful professions young people can enter. And very often, when we deliver sessions in schools, we find that young people realise it’s something they’d love to do. It’s about them having that support and knowledge in-school to develop their interest as they progress through education, and then into a career.”
Rochester Bridge Trust is calling on interested secondary schools to apply now to take part in the pilot of the Engineering Enrichment Schools Programme.
They can do so by going to the Engineering Enrichment Schools Programme page on https://rbt.org.uk/eesp/, where they can find more about the Programme:
The Engineering Enrichment Schools Programme is open to applications until Friday 1 May 2026.