Cambridge LaunchPad

15/12/2025

As the year draws to a close, we’re reflecting on some of our most impactful Cambridge LaunchPad Project Days from the past few months.

In October and November, Year 9 students from Sir Harry Smith Community College and Year 8 students from North Cambridge Academy visited The Cambridge Building Society, where they explored the wide range of career pathways available within financial services and gained valuable insight into the world of work.

Meanwhile, 37 Year 6 students from Fen Ditton Primary School and Marleigh Primary School stepped into the exciting world of technology and coding during a visit to Qualcomm, discovering what careers in STEM can look like and getting hands-on with problem-solving and creativity.

👉 Read our latest news articles on our website to find out more about these inspiring days and the impact they had on the young people involved.

Latest News

10/12/2025

We were delighted to welcome students from Thomas Clarkson Academy to Illumina, Inc. last week for an exciting Cambridge LaunchPad project day.

The Year 9s spent the day exploring the world of STEM through challenges, interactive activities and inspiring conversations with industry experts. From seeing real scientific work in action, to trying out tasks that mirror what professionals do every day, the students gained a valuable glimpse into one of the many possibilities that lie ahead.

A huge thank you to the brilliant team at Illumina for creating such a welcoming and engaging environment. Opportunities like these help young people imagine their future with excitement and ambition.

31/07/2025

Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, a world-leading centre for cancer research, continued its mission to inspire the next generation of scientists with its second Cambridge LaunchPad project day, held on 18 July 2025.

This year, students from Thomas Clarkson Academy in Wisbech were invited to the Institute for a unique opportunity to experience the world of cancer research first-hand. The initiative, part of Form the Future's Cambridge LaunchPad programme, is designed to ignite curiosity and passion for STEM careers among young people across Cambridgeshire and beyond.

Read the full story - https://ow.ly/fhpi50WxRkg

12/02/2025

💬 "Because of this trip, I'm going to look into work experience opportunities within the STEM industry" - Student from Comberton Sixth Form
..This is what we love to hear! 🤩

Today, we ran our first Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day of 2025, hosted by TTP plc, welcoming talented students from Comberton Sixth Form and Cambridge Maths School.

With guidance from TTP professionals, student teams designed and pitched innovative concepts for a fat-grafting surgical tool – a real-world challenge TTP has worked on before! Their creative prototypes, from flexible frame-mounted devices to fibreoptic-tipped syringes allowing for better visibility when operating, showcased remarkable problem-solving and design skills.

The day also included an exclusive tour of TTP's offices, labs, and engineering workshops, and concluded with the students' inspiring pitches to the TTP judges. Congratulations to the winning team from Cambridge Maths School! 🏆

We hope this glimpse into the world of STEM helps spark the next generation of innovators! 🌟

06/02/2025

Exciting Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day for Local Primary School Students! 🚀

Form the Future welcomed 30 eager students from Milton Road Primary School for a special Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day, supported by Qualcomm Technologies International, Ltd. The day offered an inspiring, hands-on experience designed to introduce young minds to the world of technology and engineering, with a focus on Qualcomm Technologies’ cutting-edge innovations.

Read the full story of this inspiring day ⭐

Form the Future welcomed 30 eager students from Milton Road Primary School for a special Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day, supported by Qualcomm Technologies

14/01/2025

✨ Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators! ✨

In November 2024, we had the pleasure of partnering with Costello Medical for their second Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day, welcoming 20 enthusiastic Year 8 students from Impington Village College, Comberton Village College, and Soham Village College.

Guided by the talented team at Costello Medical, the students took on the challenge of creating and delivering presentations on psoriasis medications. Armed with a variety of information sources, the students identified key details about their chosen drug, including its cost, effectiveness, and benefits, to market it effectively. The depth of research and creativity they displayed was truly inspiring!

💬 Student reflections from the day:
"I'm so glad I came here. This is so fun!"
"I've always wanted to be a doctor, and prior to this, I thought it would be impossible. Now, I'm motivated to work harder."
"I learned how there are different jobs in medicine that aren’t in a lab or hospital."
"I loved the positivity, happiness, and helpfulness of all the staff, and how they mentored and supported us."

At Cambridge LaunchPad, we’re passionate about inspiring young people and showcasing the diverse opportunities available in STEM careers. Watching students leave with newfound motivation and a broader awareness of careers in medical communications, healthcare, and beyond was a highlight for everyone involved.

Hana Haddad, Senior Project Coordinator at Costello Medical, shared:

“At Costello Medical, we were excited to welcome a new group of students to our Cambridge office in partnership with Cambridge LaunchPad. The students’ enthusiasm and engagement with the project were evident, culminating in presentations that impressed us with the amount of information and attention to detail they showcased in a short amount of time.”

A huge thank you to the Costello Medical team for creating such a welcoming and engaging experience! To the incredible staff who made this day possible, we’d love to hear from you: What were your highlights, and what inspired you to get involved?

Together, we’re shaping the future of STEM. 🚀

In November 2024, we had the pleasure of partnering with Costello Medical for their second Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day, welcoming 20 enthusiastic

31/10/2024

Environmental awareness and sustainability took centre stage as SLB, a global technology company, hosted its second Cambridge LaunchPad Project Day for young students in Cambridgeshire.
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The event, held on Wednesday, 16 October, welcomed 37 Year 5 and 6 students from Kettlefields Primary School PTFA for an immersive learning experience focused on the importance of green energy.
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The project day aimed to inspire young learners to think critically about the future of the planet and embrace eco-friendly practices. SLB’s team of experts created five interactive stations where students engaged in hands-on experiments that demonstrated various forms of renewable energy and key sustainability concepts.
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SLB commented on the success of the day, saying...

“We are delighted to have hosted another successful Cambridge Launchpad event this year. Our dedicated team of volunteers invested significant effort into designing and preparing the science activities for the day. Witnessing the children’s enthusiasm and joy as they engaged in hands-on experiments was incredibly rewarding. It was wonderful to see how curious and eager to learn they were about new energy topics. By sparking their interest in these critical areas, we hope to inspire them to become the future scientists who will drive the shift towards a more sustainable world. Both the SLB scientists and the children had an unforgettable and inspiring day.”
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Read the full story - https://ow.ly/Q5pH50TXeJp
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Form the Future

08/10/2024

🚀🌍 Happy World Space Week! 🌌✨

At Cambridge LaunchPad, we’re celebrating by reflecting on our collaboration with the incredible team at the Institute of Astronomy Cambridge. ✨

Experiencing the telescopes and equipment at the observatory provides young people with a unique glimpse into the science behind real space research. Students also get to unleash their creativity by designing their own planets and exploring features like temperature, seasons, surface materials, and potential life forms.

We’re proud to partner with the Institute of Astronomy to inspire the next generation through hands-on STEM experiences. Together, we’re ensuring that the future of space exploration continues to advance with fresh talent right here in Cambridgeshire. 🚀
Form the Future

12/09/2024

🎮 It's , so let's to an incredible event with Ninja Theory! Cambridgeshire students had an unforgettable experience at this 2023 Project Day, where they got an insider's look at game development magic.

From learning about cutting-edge tech to diving into the creative process behind epic titles such as Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, it was a day full of inspiration and excitement! 🚀👾

Read more about how Ninja Theory sparked the imaginations of the next generation of game developers below.

Students were given the full Ninja Theory experience ending in the production of videos with customised environments, characters, VFX, and...

29/08/2024

The new academic year is just around the corner, so let's to an incredible project day hosted by Cambridge LaunchPad committee partner TTP plc last year! 🎉

Enthusiastic students from Long Road Sixth Form College were welcomed to get hands-on with real-world STEM challenges, and in the heart of the Melbourn Science Park, they delved into the world of technology and engineering.

With the guidance of TTP’s brilliant engineers and scientists, students worked in teams to tackle a complex problem, turning ideas into innovative solutions. The energy, creativity, and passion were truly inspiring!

Thank you, TTP, for empowering the next generation of STEM/STEAM leaders! 🙌
Form the Future

In October 2023, Cambridge LaunchPad Commitee Partners TTP hosted a fantastic Project Day for students from Long Road Sixth Form College.

28/08/2024

Today, Cambridge Launchpad and Form the Future came together to introduce young people to careers in STEM/STEAM at the Youth Fusion event in Haddenham. We had fun and engaging activities including creating DNA sequencing bracelets, making a spectroscope, and drawing and colouring your future.

25/07/2024

As we wrap up another inspiring academic year, we want to extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who made it possible! From our incredible partners and dedicated schools to all the enthusiastic students, your passion for STEM/STEAM has been truly inspiring.

One student attending Costello Medical's project day summed up our work beautifully when she told us she had "learned about a different career that I didn't know about which really interests me and could be my possible future."

Highlights of the Year:

🔬 Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute: Hosted their first project day, sparking curiosity in future scientists with hands-on experiences in cancer research.

🏗️ RailPen and Socius: Engaged students with practical challenges, showcasing the exciting possibilities within construction and development.

💊 Sanofi: Enlightened participants on the intricacies of pharmaceuticals and the impact of STEM careers in healthcare.

💉 TTP plc: Helped students design prototype fat crafting tools and witness a demonstration of the new Bluebird Sapheria Team hybrid jet turbine and electric vehicle.

💻 Ninja Theory: Thrilled students with an immersive project day, offering a glimpse into the world of game development, from motion capture to sound design.

Finally, our Summer Gala, hosted by our partners at Illumina, Inc. brought together students, partners, and schools to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the last 12 months.

Thank you for making this year unforgettable. We can’t wait to see what we achieve together next year!
Marshall Group Form the Future