Client: EngineeringUK

Project: The Big Bang East Midlands

Summary

By Design designed and delivered a day-long science and engineering event with workshops and activities for schools and the general public in the East Midlands.

Objective

EngineeringUK launched The Big Bang in 2009 in partnership with the British Science Association, the Institute of Physics, the Science Council, the Royal Academy of Engineering and Young Engineering, with a large national Event held in London. The event was designed to bring together students who had completed CREST awards and Young Engineer for Britain projects and celebrate their achievement with a national competition, drawn from regional heats.

By Design won the tender to deliver the East Midlands regional heat for 3 years, beginning in 2011. The Big Bang East Midlands was held at the East Midlands Conference Centre at the University of Nottingham on Tuesday 28th June 2011.

Solution

David Ault, the Festival Director, oversaw the structure and delivery of the Fair and its targets by promotion to schools, local businesses and the general public. Targets were set by EngineeringUK to welcome 1000 visitors and recruit 70 projects from students aged between 11 and 19, of which 20 should be Young Engineer for Britain.

Locally-based businesses such as Rolls-Royce and IBM (Nottingham), as well as academic institutions such as West Notts College, Nottingham University and Leicester University were approached to provide workshops and activities.

Results

The Big Bang East Midlands welcomed 1014 people through the doors of the East Midlands Conference Centre on Tuesday 28th June, comfortably meeting its targets for project numbers and giving an excellent starting-point for two further years of growth.

Cathy Brown, Regional Director for STEMNET, said, 'It was excellent – professional, well organised, lively, well attended.'

For more information about next year's event, visit www.thebigbangfair.co.uk/eastmidlands.