The automation industry needs a continuous pipeline of talented, motivated engineers. That pipeline starts long before university or apprenticeship applications. roboTED is our initiative to inspire young people about engineering and robotics from an early age.
Why Early Engineering Education Matters
By the time students choose their GCSE subjects, many have already decided whether engineering is "for them." Research shows that exposure to hands-on STEM activities between ages 10 and 14 has the strongest influence on future career choices.
Yet many schools lack the resources, equipment, or staff expertise to deliver engaging engineering education. roboTED fills this gap.
What roboTED Offers
roboTED delivers robotics and automation education through several channels:
School Workshop Programme
We bring robotics workshops directly to schools, complete with equipment, instructors, and curriculum-aligned content. Workshops cover:
- Building and programming simple robots
- Understanding sensors, actuators, and control systems
- Problem-solving challenges that teach computational thinking
- Real-world applications of automation in industry
After-School Clubs
Ongoing robotics clubs that give students regular access to equipment and mentoring. Club activities progress from basic builds to increasingly complex challenges, developing skills over weeks and months.
Competition Support
We sponsor and support student teams entering robotics competitions, providing equipment, mentoring, and funding. Competitions motivate students and develop teamwork, presentation, and project management skills alongside technical abilities.
Teacher Training
We train teachers to deliver robotics and automation content confidently. By upskilling educators, we multiply our impact — every teacher we train reaches hundreds of students over their career.
The Connection to EDWartens
roboTED creates the early awareness and inspiration that eventually feeds into EDWartens training programmes. Students who discover a passion for automation through roboTED workshops at age 12 may go on to study engineering at university and then take CPD-accredited PLC training to launch their careers.
This long-term pipeline approach is essential for addressing the structural skills shortage in the automation sector. Quick fixes do not work; you need to build interest and develop talent over years.
Impact So Far
Since launching roboTED, we have:
- Delivered workshops in schools across multiple regions
- Engaged thousands of young people with hands-on robotics
- Trained teachers to continue delivering robotics education
- Supported student teams in national and international competitions
- Created pathways for interested students to explore engineering further
Diversity and Inclusion
A core goal of roboTED is to reach students from backgrounds underrepresented in engineering. We prioritise:
- Schools in areas with lower access to STEM enrichment
- Activities designed to appeal to all genders
- Role models from diverse backgrounds leading workshops
- Partnerships with community groups serving underrepresented populations
Supporting roboTED
We welcome partnerships with:
- Schools and colleges interested in hosting workshops or starting clubs
- Employers who can provide mentors, funding, or site visits for students
- Engineers willing to volunteer as workshop leaders or competition mentors
- Community organisations serving young people interested in technology
Part of the Wartens Mission
roboTED reflects the broader Wartens mission of developing engineering talent at every stage. From inspiring young people through roboTED, to training professionals through EDWartens, to connecting engineers with careers through OFORO AI and SEEKOF — we are building a complete ecosystem for engineering talent development.
Visit roboted.ai to learn more about our programmes and how you can get involved.