STEMFest 2023 is taking place at the VERTU Motors Arena in Newcastle on the 4th, 5th, and 6th July. The event is organised by the North East STEM Hub, delivered by RTC North. 

STEMFest will welcome nearly 3,000 schoolchildren from the regions schools and over 50 North East businesses working in STEM related sectors. This year there are industry themed zones including Space, Technology (Cyber Security), Environment and Energy, and Manufacturing.  

The events headline sponsor this year is Cummins, a global power technology leader that designs, manufactures, distributes, and services a broad portfolio of power solutions. Their Darlington Campus employs over 1800 talented individuals across a variety of functions ranging from Engineering to Manufacturing to Operations. 

The Space zone is being sponsored by Lockheed Martin, the global security and aerospace company. From mail sorting technology to helping build the UK’s first commercial spaceport, their innovators and partnerships help solve some of the world’s most complex challenges, contributing to the UK’s defence, security, and prosperity.  

The Technology (Cyber Security) zone is being supported by The Community Foundation, a foundation that matches generous people with important community causes. Every year, the Foundation award grants to hundreds of small charities in Tyne & Wear and Northumberland, and across North East England, through funds set up by a range of donors. 

The Environment and Energy zone is being sponsored by bp, a biogas and biofuels company with operations in Europe, North and South America, Australasia, Asia and Africa, they deliver energy solutions across the world. Their purpose is to reimagine energy for people and our planet. They want to help the world reach net zero and improve people’s lives.  

The Manufacturing zone is being supported by the Reece Foundation, who aim to increase the long term and sustainability of the North East, primarily by supporting engineering in the region through funding and education. The Foundation has a strong focus on the improvement of education in engineering and related scientific and mathematical subjects, training in engineering skills, and the development of employment opportunities. 

Simpson Group and Innotech Digital are also supporting, bringing the exhibition space to life with vinyl banners. Simpson Group provides award-winning print marketing campaigns and are consistently investing in pioneering technology and client-benefiting services.  

An international guest is due to attend the event, flying in from America, Jim Christensen, Chief Innovation Officer for the Aldrin Family Foundation and former Director of Education at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. During the exhibition he will be delivering an activity based around Mars Maps to engage and entertain the schoolchildren. 

Dallas Campbell, British Television Presenter is set to return for STEMFest 2023 to capture the excitement, activities and learning over the three days of the exhibition. Bringing a museum quality, wearable replica of Neil Armstrong’s iconic A7L Apollo spacesuit, this is an almost perfect visual copy of the most historically significant item of clothing ever engineered.  

Claire Willis, Team Leader at the North East STEM Hub, comments: “This is our second year we have delivered STEMFest face to face and it is always a huge effort from the team to pull it all together. Each year we try to make it bigger and better than the previous year and we have definitely done this this year by including an Escape Room and a Planetarium and some pre-bookable activities. There has been huge demand from both schools and exhibitors and I would like to thank our headline sponsor Cummins and all of the other supporters and sponsors and our exhibitors and team of volunteers as without their support, events like this just don’t happen.” 

There is lots to look forward to at #STEMFest23! We can’t wait to see the positive impacts this event will have on our regional young people.