Construction Futures is bringing its hands-on education programme, STEMstruct, to primary schools across Fermanagh this autumn. Developed by Construction Futures and delivered in partnership with STEM education charity, Sentinus, the programme is supported by local construction employers based or working across the area.
Primary six and seven pupils are swapping their pencils for plans as the eight-week programme introduces them to the exciting range of careers available in the construction and the built environment.
Now in its third delivery, STEMstruct invites pupils to work together and explore the built environment through practical challenges, creative thinking and teamwork. At the heart of the programme is the 'Town of Tomorrow' challenge, where pupils take on different construction roles to design and build their own model town. Through interactive workshops, they learn how buildings are planned, designed and constructed, to bring their town to life.
Building on the success of previous programmes across Armagh, Banbridge and Belfast areas in 2025, Fermanagh was the natural next step for STEMstruct in continuing the ambition to reach primary schools across Northern Ireland.
The programme is also supported by the Department for the Economy and Department of Education, aligning with the ambitions of their joint Careers Action Plan to introduce young people to career opportunities earlier and strengthen links between education and industry.
The programme's headline sponsor, Fermanagh-based Deane Public Works, is a multi-disciplinary construction company that delivers civil engineering and property development. Deane's generous support has played a key role in bringing STEMstruct to more local primary schools, giving pupils a hands-on introduction to the range of opportunities available in the construction industry. The company will also play an active role in the programme’s regional celebration event in December, with an interactive workshop and staff volunteering their time to support the day.
The programme has received additional welcomed support from Tracey Bros Ltd, CHC Group, GRAHAM Group, Samuel Stevenson and Sons, WOMENS’TEC, Farrans Construction Ltd and Think Design Engineer Foundation, through sponsorship and staff involvement in classroom workshops, online sessions and the upcoming celebration event, helping pupils and schools connect with people working in the industry.
Fionnuala McKenna, Head of Strategic Development at Construction Futures, said:
"At Construction Futures, we're keen to build on existing expertise rather than reinvent the wheel. When developing STEMstruct, we recognised the value of working with Sentinus, who have years of experience engaging primary school pupils in STEM. Bringing their education expertise together with our industry knowledge and employer connections made perfect sense. Research shows that children's ideas about careers can begin forming as young as five, with studies finding surprisingly little change in career aspirations between the ages of seven and seventeen. Yet much of our careers engagement traditionally focuses on the later years of secondary school. We recognised the importance of reaching children earlier, broadening their horizons and showing them the opportunities construction has to offer.”
"STEMstruct helps pupils discover how STEM shapes the world around them, while introducing the breadth of careers in construction and developing skills like creativity, teamwork and problem-solving. It's a win-win for schools and employers, supporting curriculum learning while creating meaningful opportunities for industry to engage with young people."
Janet Deane, Financial Director at Deane Public Works said:
“As a Fermanagh based family-run business with almost 60 years of experience in the construction industry, we are delighted to be the headline sponsor of STEMstruct 2026 and to help bring this fantastic initiative to primary schools across Fermanagh.”
“We believe it is incredibly important to inspire the next generation from an early age, opening their eyes to the exciting and diverse career opportunities available within construction. By encouraging creativity, teamwork and practical skills, programmes like STEMstruct are helping to develop the talent our industry will depend on in the future.”
“We are proud to support our local schools and communities and look forward to seeing the pupils’ hard work and imagination come to life at the celebration event in December.”
The programme will culminate in a closed regional celebration event at South West College's Erne Campus in early December, where participating schools will present their completed model towns to industry professionals, government, teachers and guests. With judging, prizes and interactive activities throughout the day, pupils will have the opportunity to celebrate their achievements and meet people working in construction today.
STEMstruct is part of a wider commitment to raising awareness of construction careers among young people, which in turn supports the future skills pipeline for the industry.
As a travelling programme, STEMstruct will continue to a new area each year, as Construction Futures works towards giving primary schools across Northern Ireland the chance to take part.
A short video showcasing STEMstruct is available to view online
here.
