Isle of Man businesses and organisations are being invited to get involved in two major STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education events taking place during the 2026/27 academic year.
STEMFutures, a brand-new event for Year 9 students, will take place at QEII High School on 14 and 15 October 2026, while the Island’s flagship primary school STEM event, STEMFest, will return for its sixth year at the Villa Marina on 10 and 11 February 2027.
Developed in response to industry feedback and shaped through collaboration between schools and employers, STEMFutures will help bridge the gap between early STEM engagement at primary school and the point at which students begin considering GCSE subject choices. Hosted at QEII High School, the event will bring education and industry together to help students engage directly with employers, explore apprenticeship routes and discover how STEM subjects connect to a range of careers and industries. It aims to support informed subject choices while providing valuable insight into the opportunities available on the Island.
STEMFest brings together Year 5 and 6 pupils from across the Island for two days of hands-on activities designed and delivered by local businesses. The event helps students explore STEM through real-world applications and gain an early understanding of future career pathways. In 2026, STEMFest welcomed students from all 33 primary schools on the Isle of Man for the first time.
Businesses from across the public and private sectors are invited to deliver interactive activities and demonstrations at both events. The events will help students explore science, technology, engineering and mathematics alongside the creativity, design and problem-solving skills that turn ideas into innovation, showing how these skills are applied beyond the classroom. Businesses interested in exhibiting are encouraged to contact stemfest@gov.im for further information.
Sponsorship opportunities are also available for STEMFest 2027, providing organisations with the opportunity to demonstrate their commitment to education, skills development and the Island’s future workforce.
Both events are organised by Business Isle of Man, an Executive Agency of the Department for Enterprise, in collaboration with industry, Digital Isle of Man, Finance Isle of Man, and the Department of Education, Sport and Culture.
Kirree Gooberman, Chief Executive Officer at Business Isle of Man, commented:
‘STEMFest has become a fantastic example of what can be achieved when education and industry work together. Every year, businesses across the Island give their time and expertise to create memorable learning experiences for students.
‘The introduction of STEMFutures builds on that success and responds directly to feedback from industry around the need to engage students at another key stage in their education. By bringing schools and employers together, the event will help strengthen the link between early STEM engagement, GCSE subject choices and future career pathways.
‘We would encourage organisations of all sizes to get involved and share their expertise with the next generation of talent.’
The Awareness of Careers in Engineering (ACE) Forum has worked with schools and industry for more than 16 years and has played a key role in shaping STEMFutures.
Melanie Beattie, HR Manager at Swagelok and Chair of the ACE Forum, commented:
‘STEMFutures is an exciting addition that will give students greater visibility of the career and training pathways available to them. It will also help young people understand the skills and qualifications that employers are looking for, giving them greater confidence when making future subject and career choices.
‘By bringing employers directly into the learning experience, students will gain a better understanding of local industries and the many different routes into STEM-related careers.’
