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This year’s Rethinking Futures® Schools Project, Competition, and Careers Fair proved to be a major success, inspiring young minds and strengthening the link between education and industry. The event brought together students, teachers, and employers to celebrate engineering creativity and showcase the exciting range of career paths within the sector. Over 180 students took part in the project competition on the opening day, presenting functional lifting equipment they had designed and built. Their innovative projects demonstrated impressive engineering skills, teamwork, and problem-solving, earning the attention of exhibitors, industry professionals, and PlantWorx visitors. The Best Build award went to Lincoln UTC , while Walton Academy, Grantham , won Best Under 16 . The Suthers School received the Best Ingenuity prize, and North Notts College was the overall winner of the competition. Across the two-day careers fair, around 350 students met with leading employers and organisations from across the construction and engineering sectors. Exhibitors brought STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) careers to life through hands-on demonstrations and conversations, helping students understand how their studies translate into real-world opportunities. Several schools generously left their project builds on site, providing a valuable learning experience for primary school groups who visited later in the week. The CPA (Construction Plant-hire Association), the largest trade association for the plant-hire sector in the UK with almost 2,000 members, was among the organisations supporting Rethinking Futures, which formed part of PlantWorx 2025 at Newark Showground from 23–25 September. CPA Chief Executive Officer Steve Mulholland and Technical Publications and Careers Manager Katie Kelleher joined the judging panel for the student challenge, where participants were tasked with designing and building a piece of machinery. Steve Mulholland said: “Rethinking Futures was a fantastic initiative that really helped to highlight the exciting career opportunities available within the plant-hire industry. The event provided a brilliant platform for the sector to connect with school and college students and showcase the breadth of potential career paths available. “Our industry offers jobs for life, and we must make sure these opportunities don’t go unnoticed. Katie and I thoroughly enjoyed being part of the judging panel. The students' work was outstanding, and judging was certainly not easy! Their creativity, teamwork, and practical thinking were genuinely impressive. “At the CPA, we continue to focus on developing construction plant-based apprenticeship schemes for a range of roles, including Plant Mechanics, Plant Operators and Hire Controllers. Our Stars of the Future Awards also celebrate and reward apprentices and trainees in the industry, so Rethinking Futures aligned perfectly with our work to address skills shortages and attract new talent into the sector.” Stuart Favill, Operations Director at PlantWorx and founder of Rethinking Futures, added: “This year’s Rethinking Futures has shown what can be achieved when schools and industry come together. The standard of student work was exceptional, and the enthusiasm from teachers and exhibitors alike was fantastic. There’s still work to do in breaking down barriers between education and employers, but events like this prove how powerful collaboration can be in building the next skilled workforce.” The Rethinking Futures initiative was a year in the planning and highlights the continued need for education and industry to work hand in hand. Organisers noted that while challenges remain—such as school resourcing, transport logistics, and industry engagement—there is a growing appetite for practical partnerships that give students real-world insight.  By bridging the gap between classroom learning and employment, Rethinking Futures is helping to nurture the next generation of engineers and construction professionals—equipped with the curiosity, creativity, and confidence to take the industry forward.

The construction and engineering industries are evolving fast, driven by technology, sustainability, and global trends. But one big challenge remains: the skills gap. Finding skilled professionals to innovate and lead the construction and engineering industries is a growing priority. That’s where Rethinking Futures steps in — a program designed to bridge the gap between education and industry. By connecting students, schools, and industry leaders, Rethinking Futures gives young talent the tools they need to succeed. Hands-On Learning for Career-Ready Skills Rethinking Futures goes beyond the classroom, offering students practical experiences that reflect real-world challenges. This approach helps students develop the skills employers want — like problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity — while building their own confidence. Lincoln UTC, a Rethinking Futures Supporter, explains: “Designing and building a machine capable of moving various products is exactly the type of challenge our students excel at—combining technical knowledge, creativity, and teamwork.” Wright Engineering adds: “We aim to spark early interest by promoting engineering opportunities for school leavers, such as apprenticeships, while also showcasing graduate roles for those pursuing higher education.” By aligning career pathways with students’ goals, Rethinking Futures ensures no talent is left behind. Bringing Careers to Life Many students don’t consider careers in construction or engineering simply because they don’t know what’s possible. Rethinking Futures changes this by connecting students directly with industry professionals and showcasing the opportunities these fields offer. Steve Mulholland, CEO of the Construction Plant-hire Association (CPA): “Initiatives like Rethinking Futures ensure students gain hands-on experience and see the career opportunities our sector provides.” The RAF agrees: “With over 60 jobs and 20+ apprenticeships available, the RAF relies on programs like Rethinking Futures to demonstrate the breadth of opportunities to students early in their education.” By making these industries approachable and exciting, the program inspires the next generation of talent. Closing the Gap Through Collaboration Collaboration is at the core of Rethinking Futures. By bringing together schools and businesses, the program creates a direct pipeline of skilled talent ready to meet the industry’s needs. Murphy, a key supporter of the initiative, shares: “It’s always fantastic to meet students and discuss their career ambitions. These conversations often help students see how their strengths can translate into a career in engineering or construction.” Wright Engineering adds: “This initiative uniquely tackles our industry's skills shortages by directly connecting students with employers through interactive engagement.” Together, schools and industries are building a workforce that’s prepared for the future. Building a Sustainable Future Sustainability in every form is at the heart of today’s construction and engineering industries, and Rethinking Futures is helping students prepare to meet these challenges. By providing opportunities for students to consider the future of the environment, the initiative ensures the next generation is equipped to create a more sustainable world.  The H. E. Group, which includes companies like H. E. Services and Diggerland, emphasises: “Encouraging environmentally responsible thinking is vital, and Rethinking Futures is the perfect platform to inspire the next generation and drive meaningful cultural change.” Have you got the vision? Our initiatives are designed to connect schools, students and employers within the construction and engineering sectors. Inspiring young minds, providing hands-on experience, and fostering valuable connections for future career success. 🏫 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀 & 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 📚 We offer schools hands-on engineering projects, career guidance, workshops, and networking to enrich curriculums with real-world industry insights. For further details on how to get involved or to register your your interest, please click here. 👷‍♂️ 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 🚧 We help employers engage with students, boost brand visibility, network with industry leaders, and mentor future talent in construction and engineering. For further details about sponsorship click here. 🧑‍🎓 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 📝 Students get real-world engineering experience, competitions, career exploration, and skill development workshops to help them prepare for future careers in construction and engineering. 𝗪𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝗹𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 — 𝘄𝗲’𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗶𝘁.

Discover how hands‑on learning boosts engagement, deepens understanding and builds real‑world skills by letting learners experiment and reflect.