EDT
EDT is a UK educational charity (founded 1984) operating the Industrial Cadets accredited awards scheme, delivering industry-based STEM experiences to young people aged 7-19+ through partnerships with 179+ employers and 265+ schools across six regional clusters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1984
- HeadquartersWelwyn Garden City, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What EDT does
EDT (Engineering Development Trust) is a UK-registered charity founded in 1984 that operates the Industrial Cadets programme, an accredited awards scheme providing industry-based STEM experiences to young people aged 7 to 19+. The organisation delivers a portfolio of programmes including Challenger Experience Days (half-day workshops for ages 7+), Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum accredited awards with industry mentorship, Routes into STEM, one-year Year in Industry placements for 17+ students, Headstart summer courses, Go4SET school projects, and Insight into Apprenticeships (launched 2023). Programmes are delivered through a multi-partner network spanning 179+ industry employers, 265+ schools/universities/colleges, and 649+ professional volunteers, organised across six UK regional clusters (Scotland, Manchester, Birmingham, Welwyn, Southampton, Plymouth).
The charity operates as a non-profit under a company-limited-by-guarantee structure (Charity No. 1156066 in England and Wales; SC039635 in Scotland), with His Majesty King Charles III as Patron of Industrial Cadets. Revenue is generated through four streams: charitable donations and Gift Aid-augmented philanthropy, corporate partnerships offering CSR and social value benefits, government and trust grants (including Department for Science, Innovation and Technology funding, Drax Foundation, Ørsted Hornsea 3 Skills Fund), and channeling of unused employer Growth & Skills Levy funds into accredited outreach. Notable employer partners include Leonardo (20-year partnership), Balfour Beatty, GSK, SSEN Transmission, Siemens, Mott MacDonald, Willmott Dixon, BAE Systems, and Digital Catapult.
EDT reports 50,000+ experiences delivered annually (101,000 in 2025), 250,000 cumulative experiences achieved by end-2024, and an ambition to reach 1 million young people by 2035. Headcount is in the 101-250 range. Diversity outcomes include 40% female participation and 53% ethnic minority participation among supported students. The organisation is led by CEO Julie Feest (OBE, 2026 New Year Honours) with Elena Rodríguez Falcón as Chair of the Industrial Cadets Board of Trustees. Revenue is not publicly disclosed.
EDT firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EDT
- Legal name
- Engineering Development Trust (EDT)
- Website
- https://etrust.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1984
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- EDT is a UK educational charity (founded 1984) operating the Industrial Cadets accredited awards scheme, delivering industry-based STEM experiences to young people aged 7-19+ through partnerships with 179+ employers and 265+ schools across six regional clusters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EDT industry classification
Industry- Product category
- STEM Education & Youth Skills Development
- NAICS
- Educational Services (61), Educational Support Services (6117), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (611)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms) (BPAGALAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Digital Learning, EdTech Enablement & Connectivity for Education (BPADAKAH), Interactive Practice & Skill-Building (Drills, Games, Mastery Practice) (EDAFACAC)
Keywords
Where EDT is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Welwyn Garden City
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices6 records
Markets served
EDT business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Charitable Donations & Philanthropy: EDT relies on donations from individuals, charitable trusts, foundations, and philanthropists. Gift Aid allows the charity to claim an extra 25p for every £1 donated by UK taxpayers.
- Corporate Partnerships: Companies partner with EDT to deliver STEM programmes to young people, accessing CSR benefits, social value reporting, and workforce development. Partners include major UK employers across STEM sectors.
- Government & Trust Grants: EDT receives grant funding from government departments (e.g., Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology), trust foundations (e.g., Drax Foundation, Ørsted Hornsea 3 Skills Fund), and corporate foundations.
- Skills Levy & ESF Funding: EDT channels unused employer levy funds into accredited STEM outreach programmes, helping companies maximise their Growth & Skills Levy investments.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
EDT product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EDT is a UK educational charity that delivers and accredits the Industrial Cadets programme — an industry-recognised awards scheme providing STEM workplace experiences, placements, and career exploration activities for young people aged 7+. Accredited programmes include Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum Awards, Challenger Experience Days, Routes into STEM, Year in Industry placements, Headstart, Go4SET, and Insight into Apprenticeships, delivered through partnerships with 179+ industry employers and 265+ educational institutions.
Product overview
EDT (Engineering Development Trust) operates the Industrial Cadets programme as its core product - a widely recognised, accredited awards scheme providing industry-based STEM experiences for young people. The offering spans multiple programme types including Challenger Experience Days (half-day workshops for ages 7+), Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum award levels with industry mentorship, Routes into STEM (virtual and face-to-face career exploration), Year in Industry placements (1-year programmes for 17+), Headstart summer courses, Go4SET school projects, and Insight into Apprenticeships (for ages 15-18). The portfolio also includes the Forscherwelt programme (in partnership with Henkel) for children aged 8-10. EDT delivers over 50,000 experiences annually through its multi-partner network, accredited by UK industry standards and supported by royal patronage.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Industrial Cadets: A widely recognised, accredited awards scheme providing industry-based experiences for young people to become part of the workforce of the future.
Quantifiable outcome
- 50,000+ experiences delivered annually; 101,000 in 2025 alone
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use EDT
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
EDT technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
EDT partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- HenkelcorePartnership to bring Henkel's Forscherwelt (Researchers' World) global STEM programme to UK. Designed for children aged 8-10, encouraging scientific method through hands-on experiments. Rollout across 18 UK schools initially.
- ViridorcoreThirteenth consecutive year partnership. Viridor sponsors STEM projects for South Lanarkshire pupils, including 12-week projects on circular economy, mental health, and sustainability. Supports Bronze Industrial Cadets awards and site visits to Bargeddie facility.
- LeonardocoreCelebrating 20-year partnership (2005-2025) providing students hands-on engineering experiences through fun problem-solving challenges. Leonardo supports Industrial Cadets programmes, mentored projects, work experience, placements, and Routes into STEM experiences. 70% of supported students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
- Digital CatapultcoreThree-year deep tech outreach programme for North East. EDT leads delivery of Industrial Cadets pathway with exposure to VR, AR, and webCAD technologies. Phase 1 includes Challenger Experience Days targeting secondary schools in Newcastle, Sunderland, and Northumberland.
- Smallpeice TrustcorePartnership to support 17,500+ young people access STEM education, funded by RAF Charitable Trust. EDT provides accreditation for Road to RIAT and Blast Off to RIAT programmes delivered by Smallpeice Trust.
- Enginuity AlliancecoreEDT joined the Enginuity Alliance, a movement of organisations working to close skills gaps in UK's engineering and manufacturing industry. Allows EDT to drive hands-on impact, share best practice, and influence the sector.
- The Careers & Enterprise CompanycoreFounding partner of Skills & Employment Alliance alongside The 5% Club. Initiative celebrates employers committed to excellence and social responsibility. Central to the Exemplar Employer Scheme.
- RAF Charitable TrustcoreHeadline Funder of Industrial Cadets and EDT Key Stage 3 Experience Days. Focus on celebrating young people's achievements across industry and funding programmes. Partnership aligns with RAFCT mission to reach 500,000 young people by 2026.
- SSEN TransmissioncoreStrategic partnership to inspire young people about careers in energy through Green Skills and Net Zero jobs. Includes Industrial Cadets Challenger workshops, Bronze/Silver/Gold projects, and Discovery Days. SSEN Transmission operates high-voltage network across north of Scotland, needing to expand workforce for £20bn Pathway to 2030 programme.
- The 5% ClubcorePartnership for Work Readiness to influence employers to increase engagement with education and deliver quality work readiness programmes. Promotes employers committed to 5% of workforce in earn & learn roles.
- His Majesty King Charles IIIcoreRoyal Patron of Industrial Cadets, retained following review of the late Queen's Patronages. Provides royal endorsement for the programme.
- Balfour BeattycoreMajor employer partner providing placement opportunities and mentoring. Managing Director Hector MacAulay cited as valuing EDT's ability to inspire young people about real STEM careers.
- Airbus FoundationminorFoundation partner supporting STEM outreach activities.
- GSKcoreHost employer for Industrial Cadets Platinum placement students including Rocco Didio and Charlotte Martin. Provides year-long placements in pharmaceutical quality control and business improvement roles.
- Scottish PowerminorEnergy sector partner supporting STEM education initiatives.
- Mott MacDonaldcoreExemplar Employer in Skills & Employment Alliance, recognised for excellence in workforce development.
- Siemens Group PLCcoreExemplar Employer in Skills & Employment Alliance, recognised for excellence in workforce development.
- Willmott DixoncoreExemplar Employer in Skills & Employment Alliance, recognised for excellence in workforce development.
- BAE SystemsminorDefence sector partner supporting STEM outreach.
- IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology)minorProfessional body partner supporting engineering education.
- LeonardocoreLong-standing partner (20 years) providing engineering challenges and mentorship.
- Clyde GatewayminorRegional economic development organisation supporting STEM in Glasgow area.
- UK ESEROminorSpace education partner supporting STEM outreach.
- FidelityminorCorporate partner supporting STEM education.
- Scottish and Southern Electricity NetworksminorEnergy network partner supporting STEM education in Scotland.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
EDT competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Speakers for Schools: UK charity connecting state school students with employers through talks, work experience and workplace insights. Directly comparable to EDT's Industrial Cadets model of leveraging employer volunteers for student engagement.
- British Science Association (CREST Awards): UK charity delivering CREST Awards - a STEM accreditation scheme for young people. Directly comparable to EDT's Industrial Cadets accreditation framework as a recognised national benchmark for student STEM achievement.
- EngineeringUK: UK not-for-profit organisation promoting engineering careers to young people. Comparable to EDT in driving engineering workforce pipeline through school engagement, employer partnerships, and policy advocacy.
- STEM Learning: UK STEM education charity delivering teacher CPD, student programmes and STEM Ambassador networks. Directly comparable to EDT in mission, charitable structure, and target audience (UK schools and young people in STEM).
- Smallpeice Trust: UK charity delivering engineering-focused residential courses and STEM projects for young people aged 10-18. Highly comparable as an EDT programme accreditation partner for the Road to RIAT and Blast Off to RIAT programmes.
- Education and Employers: UK charity running Inspiring the Future and Primary Futures programmes connecting schools with employer volunteers. Directly comparable in providing volunteer-led career insight experiences for young people.
Broad incumbents
- Royal Academy of Engineering: UK national academy driving engineering excellence through education programmes, policy work and partner initiatives. Comparable in promoting engineering careers to young people, though broader mandate as professional body.
- The Prince's Trust: Major UK youth charity supporting education, training and employment for 11-30 year olds. Comparable to EDT in mission of preparing disadvantaged young people for the workforce, though broader in scope and scale.
Emerging players
- Primary Engineer: UK social enterprise bringing engineering into primary and secondary schools through projects and competitions. Comparable to EDT's Challenger Experience Days and Routes into STEM programmes in targeting early-stage STEM engagement.
- Enginuity: UK charity (formerly the Gatsby Foundation skills programmes) working to close engineering and manufacturing skills gaps. Comparable to EDT as an alliance partner addressing employer-led skills development for the sector.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EDT social profiles
Digital presenceEDT financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EDT leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
EDT funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EDT M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EDT
What does EDT do?
EDT is a UK educational charity that delivers and accredits the Industrial Cadets programme — an industry-recognised awards scheme providing STEM workplace experiences, placements, and career exploration activities for young people aged 7+. Accredited programmes include Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum Awards, Challenger Experience Days, Routes into STEM, Year in Industry placements, Headstart, Go4SET, and Insight into Apprenticeships, delivered through partnerships with 179+ industry employers and 265+ educational institutions.
Is EDT a public or private company?
EDT is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was EDT founded?
EDT was founded in 1984. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is EDT based?
EDT is headquartered in Welwyn Garden City, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does EDT make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Charitable Donations & Philanthropy is the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships, government & Trust Grants and skills Levy & ESF Funding.
Who are EDT's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Speakers for Schools, British Science Association (CREST Awards), EngineeringUK, STEM Learning, Smallpeice Trust and Education and Employers. Broad incumbents are Royal Academy of Engineering and The Prince's Trust. Emerging players are Primary Engineer and Enginuity.
Does EDT have an API?
No public API is recorded for EDT.
What industry is EDT in?
EDT's product category is STEM Education & Youth Skills Development. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGALAH, Education Access & EdTech for Equity (Low-cost Learning, Skills Platforms), with a secondary code of BPADAKAH, Digital Learning, EdTech Enablement & Connectivity for Education. Its NAICS code is 61 and its SIC code is 8200.