We are thrilled to share some fantastic news—STEMFest 2025 is now funded for 1000 children! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our partners at Services Design Solution (SDS) and the wider construction industry community, our flagship education event will be completely free to attend for 1,000 school children across the South West for the very first time.
Earlier this spring, SDS hosted their much-loved annual charity quiz night, rallying clients, colleagues, and friends at the Walkabout in Plymouth for an evening full of trivia, laughter, and purpose. With themed rounds, a buzzing atmosphere, and a brilliantly run raffle, they raised a record-breaking £8,300—all in support of our charity and our mission to connect people with the Ocean.
This fundraising milestone has removed one of the main barriers for schools to be able to access Ocean education. STEMFest 2025 will open the doors for students whose socio-economic backgrounds may have prevented them from engaging with the programme in the past. They will partake in immersive, hands-on learning experiences designed to spark curiosity and inspire future careers in science, technology, engineering, and maths.
And this year, with a theme of Ocean Friendly homes, STEMFest 2025 will shine a spotlight on engineering—celebrating SDS’s roots and their passion for inspiring young people to explore what’s possible in the world we build.
We were honoured to welcome SDS’s Shaun Hoppins, John Bradbury, and Kate Lowman to the National Marine Aquarium to present the cheque in person. The setting was a meaningful one: a place where their team celebrated SDS’s 20th anniversary last year with sustainability at its heart—from live trees instead of balloons to a recycled plastic bench that still sits proudly on site today.
“This event was more than just a quiz night—it was a celebration of what can be achieved when our industry comes together for a shared purpose,” said Kate Lowman, Social Value & Marketing Executive at SDS.
If you would like to find out more about STEMFest 2025 or our incredible learning programme join our mailing list below: