Kids Invent Stuff partnered with Accu on a large-scale engineering and robotics activation designed to inspire children and young people to explore STEM, invention, engineering, and creativity through hands-on experiences, live events, and digital content. The collaboration combined education, entertainment, and engineering to show children how imaginative ideas can become real working creations with the support of engineering and manufacturing.
The partnership centred around a child-led invention challenge where children were invited to design imaginative antweight battle robots inspired by engineering, mechanics, and robotics. One winning idea, ‘Burger Bot’, designed by a young inventor named Dixie, was transformed into a fully functioning antweight battle robot by the Kids Invent Stuff team.
Ahead of Makers Central 2025, Kids Invent Stuff visited primary schools to deliver invention workshops focused on robots and mechanical engineering. Children were encouraged to think creatively while also learning about real-world engineering concepts, design processes, and how components can be used to bring inventions to life. Across schools and online submissions, the challenge collected 474 invention ideas from children and young people.
The project then moved into a large-scale public activation at Makers Central, one of the UK’s biggest maker and engineering festivals. Kids Invent Stuff and Accu created a fully co-branded interactive area where families could experience engineering in a fun and engaging environment. Activities included live antweight robot battles, invention displays, interactive robots, engineering-themed activities, and opportunities for children to engage directly with creators and inventors.
The event attracted around 10,000 attendees overall, with Kids Invent Stuff estimating direct engagement with approximately 2,000 children, families, and makers throughout the weekend. The activation created valuable face-to-face STEM engagement opportunities and helped introduce engineering and robotics to children who may not normally access traditional STEM activities.
Alongside the live experience, the collaboration included a major online content campaign featuring YouTube videos, short-form social media content, behind-the-scenes engineering footage, and creator collaborations. The campaign generated more than 83,000 online views across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn at the time of reporting, with figures continuing to grow thanks to evergreen educational content.
Accu have worked with the Kids Invent Stuff team several times and they always go above and beyond to deliver – for the kids that they are so passionate about inspiring, but also for us as a partner, ensuring that they get our message across in an appropriate way at every opportunity.
Alastair Morris, Managing Director at Accu
Combined across online and offline engagement, the project reached an estimated audience of more than 85,000 people. The collaboration successfully demonstrated how engineering brands and educational creators can work together to inspire the next generation of inventors, engineers, and makers through creative and accessible STEM engagement.