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    Engineering Development Trust

    About Engineering Development Trust

    Engineering Development Trust (EDT) is a UK-wide educational charity connecting young people, educators, and employers through STEM programs and Industrial Cadets. It delivers and accredits experiences intended to build skills, confidence, work readiness, and awareness of STEM education and career pathways.

    Teaching style

    EDT emphasizes hands-on, project-based STEM learning supported by lectures, workshops, laboratory activities, group work, academics, student mentors, and industry mentors. Activities connect classroom learning with university study and real-world STEM careers.

    Reputation & Succeed take

    EDT describes Industrial Cadets as a widely recognized, accredited awards scheme and reports delivering or accrediting more than 50,000 experiences each year. The organization also states that it has 35 years of STEM experience.

    Our take

    EDT's distinguishing strength is its structured pathway of STEM experiences spanning school projects, university tasters, industry mentoring, work experience, and Industrial Cadets awards. It is a strong fit for young people seeking practical, career-connected learning, although availability, eligibility, travel requirements, and fees vary by program.

    Rather than focusing on one course format, EDT offers a progression of school-based, university, virtual, work-experience, and industry-mentored opportunities linked through the Industrial Cadets awards framework. Its model places particular emphasis on employer connections, practical STEM activity, and work-readiness skills.

    Who this provider suits

    Who should choose them

    EDT is best suited to young people interested in STEM study or careers who want practical projects, university exposure, industry contact, mentoring, or recognized awards. Its wider opportunities serve young people ages 9 to 21, while individual programs have narrower age and eligibility criteria.

    Who it may not suit

    EDT may be less suitable for learners seeking non-STEM enrichment or fully flexible, unsupervised experiences. Some in-person university programs are UK-only, age-specific, and require participants to attend the full scheduled course.

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    Frequently asked questions

    Engineering Development Trust, commonly identified as EDT on its website, is a UK-wide educational charity that delivers and accredits STEM experiences through Industrial Cadets.

    EDT provides STEM opportunities for young people ages 9 to 21 and works with educators, employers, universities, funders, and industry partners. Each program has its own age and eligibility requirements.

    Industrial Cadets is EDT's recognized, accredited awards framework for industry-connected experiences and pathways from education into employment.

    Offerings include school-based STEM projects, university insight experiences, industry-mentored projects, work experience, placements, and virtual experiences.

    EDT publishes safeguarding, online safeguarding, adults-at-risk, privacy, and data-protection policies. Residential university experiences also use EDT supervisors alongside university staff and ambassadors.

    Limited bursary or sponsored places may be available for some programs. Applicants should check the criteria and availability for the specific opportunity.

    Programs by Engineering Development Trust

    Aerospace Engineering at Liverpool UniversityProgram
    Upcoming
    Engineering Development Trust

    Aerospace Engineering at Liverpool University

    Organised by Engineering Development Trust

    Computer ScienceDesign+3 more

    Dates

    11 Jul – 15 Jul 2027

    Location

    Liverpool

    Duration

    5 days (4 nights)

    View details
    Materials Science at University of OxfordProgram
    Upcoming
    Engineering Development Trust

    Materials Science at University of Oxford

    Organised by Engineering Development Trust

    Biomedical EngineeringEngineering+3 more

    Dates

    21 Jun – 25 Jun 2027

    Location

    Multiple locations

    Duration

    5 days (4 nights residential)

    View details