The initiative is funded by the BDR Thermea Foundation, the owner of Baxi’s parent company BDR Thermea Group, and follows the announcement of Baxi’s four-year principal Sponsorship of World Skills UK.
Building on Baxi’s successful four-year partnership with Primary Engineer in Preston, where Baxi has its manufacturing facility, the new agreement involves expanding the Construction Programme to include Warwick, home to Baxi’s UK headquarters. Engaging 60 primary schools across Warwick and Preston will connect over 3,000 pupils with real-world Baxi engineers who will help them to develop skills, confidence and curiosity around engineering.
The programme consists of two curriculum-linked engineering projects for Key Stage 1 (ages 5 to 7) and Key Stage 2 (ages 7 to 11) that encourage pupils to design, build and present their ideas. The initiative will simultaneously train more than 100 teachers who will be directly supported by the Baxi volunteer engineers during both training and classroom delivery.
The initiative also includes a 3-year partnership for the ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’ competition in Lancashire and West Central England. Open to pupils aged 3 to 19, the competition invites participants to interview engineers, learn about the breadth of engineering careers, and develop imaginative solutions to real-world challenges. Baxi’s engineers will be involved in grading entries, judging shortlisted designs, and celebrating the winners at regional exhibitions and awards ceremonies.
Carolyn Sidebotham, head of L&D at Baxi UK and Ireland, said: “We are delighted to expand our partnership with Primary Engineer, with the support of the BDR Thermea Foundation, to include schools across both our Warwick and Preston locations.
“It’s essential we encourage and inspire the next generation of young engineers to help us in the critical transition to clean heating and hot water – and this programme, which involves our own engineers, is a fantastic way to do just that. Research shows that STEM aspirations and perceptions are formed during the primary years, so engaging with pupils at this early stage is vital to encourage a larger and more diverse talent force. By bringing engineering to life in such a fun and informative way, we hope to show what a meaningful career opportunity this sector offers.”
Robert Von Roijen, program & partner manager ANB at the BDR Thermea Foundation, said: “Our mission to empower young people to pursue impactful careers that support the energy transition aligns closely with the goals and outcomes of Primary Engineer. Through this partnership, we can deliver measurable local and national impact across Baxi’s UK locations, providing engaging and meaningful volunteering opportunities for our engineers and supporting diversity and early engagement in engineering. Collaborating in this way, we can help build long-term interest in engineering careers aligned with a just and skilled energy transition.”
Primary Engineer head of partnerships Natasha Kinnear said: “We are thrilled to be expanding our partnership with Baxi and the BDR Thermea Foundation. Together, we’re opening the doors of engineering to thousands of young people, helping them to see how engineering is relevant to their lives and how they can play a part in shaping a more sustainable future.
'By connecting pupils with real engineers, whether through practical classroom projects or the ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’ competition, we’re inspiring creativity, curiosity, and problem-solving from an early age. It’s partnerships like this that show how industry and education can work together to equip the next generation with the skills and ambition needed to support the energy transition and help tackle the challenges of tomorrow.”
The Primary Engineer programme will begin in the autumn when teachers in the Preston and Warwick participating schools, supported by our engineers and the Primary Engineer team, will be introduced to this year’s construction projects.