KENDAL College will next month welcome up to 20 major employers and hundreds of pupils from Cumbrian primary and secondary schools for the first 2014 Cumbrian Big Bang Science and Engineering Fair.

Organised by STEM Cumbria Ltd, in partnership with the college, the event will be held in the brand new £1.9m state-of-the-art Engineering Centre on Tuesday November 4.

Local employers including Furmanite and Siemens will be carrying out hands-on ‘have-a-go’ activities for pupils to take part in whilst discussing the benefits of following a career in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Maths) industries. There will be a range of STEM experiences available from advanced manufacturing to conservation and environmental sciences.

Pupils will receive a special welcome to the new Engineering Centre by Oscar the Robot, and will also have the chance to see some of the centre’s new manufacturing equipment in action including 3D printers, design software and robotic programming.

Graham Wilkinson, Principal at Kendal College, said: “STEM subjects are part of every curriculum area at Kendal College so it's important for us to hold events like these.

"We need to work together with local manufacturing companies to get the younger generation interested and excited about subjects like science and maths and encourage them to continue with STEM subjects after they leave school.

As part of the day’s events, Cumbria’s Lord Lieutenant, Claire Hensman will officially open the brand new Engineering Centre at 3pm.