Reece Foundation backs celebration of young engineering talent in the North East
5th June 2026
- 31 pupils from across North East England were recognised for their creative engineering ideas.
- The Sunderland celebration brought together pupils, families, teachers and industry professionals to champion young innovation.
- The programme encouraged young people to think boldly, solve problems creatively and imagine how engineering can improve everyday life.
We were delighted to attend Primary Engineer’s regional celebration in Sunderland in June 2026, shining a spotlight on the creativity, curiosity and determination of school pupils from across North East England.
The event formed part of Primary Engineer’s UK-wide competition, which invites pupils aged 3 to 19 to answer the inspiring question: “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” After interviewing an engineer, pupils identify a problem in the world around them and turn their ideas into design solutions that could improve everyday life.
Every entry is reviewed by engineering professionals, and all participating pupils receive a named, graded certificate. Designs are celebrated for their originality and for the real-world problems they aim to solve, with shortlisted entries progressing to regional judging and award ceremonies across the UK.
In Sunderland, pupils, families, teachers and industry professionals came together for a joyful celebration of local ingenuity. Shortlisted designs were proudly displayed, and winners and highly commended pupils were invited on stage to enjoy well-deserved recognition for their ideas and achievements.
In total, 31 pupils from across the North East England region were recognised. Trophies and framed certificates were presented to highly commended entrants and winners, celebrating imaginative ideas that tackled everyday challenges with creativity, care and practical thinking.
As a supporter of the initiative, the Reece Foundation is proud to support a programme that encourages young people to think boldly, solve problems creatively and see themselves as the innovators of tomorrow.
Simon Gilroy said: “It was a privilege to attend the awards ceremony and see the pupils’ ideas. The creativity, imagination, and thought that had gone into tackling everyday problems were really impressive. The Reece Foundation trustees are delighted to support a programme that encourages young people to develop their ideas and inspires the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.”
All photos from event available here
Back to News