National Manufacturing Day is a chance for UK manufacturers to open their doors and invite the local community and local schools to visit their sites for a day and experience what modern day manufacturing looks like. It will give students the chance to see that manufacturing can be both exciting and rewarding, using the latest in cutting edge digital technologies which deliver highly skilled roles with salaries 12% above the national average.

To arrange a visit on National Manufacturing Day, you can find a Host Employer taking part near you. Don’t worry if there aren’t any near you listed, Make UK can find a suitable business near you to visit as more companies are signing up to take part every day. Just email [email protected] and we can approach a nearby manufacturer on your behalf to set up a visit.

Useful Resources

Routes into Engineering

Apprentice and Skills Brochure

Apprenticeship Standards

This is Engineering Portal

A brilliant portal to explore more about the roles and careers pathways available in engineering.

Apprenticeship Activity packs for students

These interactive activity packs have been designed to help support students in discovering more about their career options after school or college.

The Ask Programme

Increasing awareness of Apprenticeships, this programme provides a range of free resources and activities for schools and colleges, as well as support for Apprenticeship Employers.

Enginuity Skills Miner Game

Skills Miner award-winning games help young people discover engineering and manufacturing through problem-solving challenges in Minecraft, aligned with the National Curriculums.

Enspire City Game

Enspire City is an interactive platform where young people aged 8-12 can safely explore a futuristic virtual city, solving environmental challenges with cutting-edge technology solutions. It’s free to use.

Neon

The UK's dedicated platform helping primary and secondary teachers find quality-assured engineering and technology activities. Discover workshops, trips and events from leading providers, alongside inspiring case studies and supportive resources.

Kids Invent Stuff

Kids Invent Stuff is the YouTube channel where 4-11 year olds have the chance to get their invention ideas built by engineers.

The Big Bang

Discover exciting possibilities and connect to inspiring role models in STEM with the Big Bang.

Apprenticeship videos highlighting a career in Manufacturing

You are the Future Makers

Parent & son experience

Challenge yourself - Mechanical Engineering Challenges

As part of National Manufacturing Day, The STEM Workshop has created a range of challenges to help you engage with some of the key skills we explore across Engineering and Manufacturing. Below are a set of step by step guides, with accompanying videos, to assist you with the following challenges:

Challenge 1

To design and make a working mechanism to lift a 100 gram weight vertically.

Challenge 2

To design and make a marble run to keep the marble moving for as long as possible.

Challenge 3

To design and make a mechanical device that will lift and move a heavy weight up to 1kg.

Challenge 4

To design a mechanical system to move a ball vertically at least 200mm and horizontally 200mm. You can incorporate any mechanism you want in order to move the ball effectively.

Make UK Apprenticeships

Learn more about becoming an Apprentice.

National Manufacturing Day

Find out more about National Manufacturing Day 2026.