EDT

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.

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

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

• STEM education charity
• Youth work placements
• Industrial cadets accreditation
• STEM skills development
• School employer engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Welwyn Garden City

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• HenkelcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 February 2026Partnership 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.
• ViridorcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 January 2026Thirteenth 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.
• LeonardocoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 27 November 2025Celebrating 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 CatapultcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 July 2025Three-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 TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 March 2025Partnership 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 AlliancecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 January 2025EDT 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 CompanycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 December 2024Founding 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 TrustcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 November 2024Headline 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 or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2024Strategic 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% ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 24 October 2024Partnership 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 IIIcoreOthers · 24 October 2024Royal Patron of Industrial Cadets, retained following review of the late Queen's Patronages. Provides royal endorsement for the programme.
• Balfour BeattycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor 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 FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFoundation partner supporting STEM outreach activities.
• GSKcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost 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 PowerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy sector partner supporting STEM education initiatives.
• Mott MacDonaldcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExemplar Employer in Skills & Employment Alliance, recognised for excellence in workforce development.
• Siemens Group PLCcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExemplar Employer in Skills & Employment Alliance, recognised for excellence in workforce development.
• Willmott DixoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExemplar Employer in Skills & Employment Alliance, recognised for excellence in workforce development.
• BAE SystemsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDefence sector partner supporting STEM outreach.
• IET (Institute of Engineering and Technology)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional body partner supporting engineering education.
• LeonardocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner (20 years) providing engineering challenges and mentorship.
• Clyde GatewayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional economic development organisation supporting STEM in Glasgow area.
• UK ESEROminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpace education partner supporting STEM outreach.
• FidelityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporate partner supporting STEM education.
• Scottish and Southern Electricity NetworksminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnergy network partner supporting STEM education in Scotland.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/TheEDTUK
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheEDTUK
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/edt_2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about EDT