The Smallpeice Trust
The Smallpeice Trust is a UK STEM education charity founded in 1966 that delivers hands-on engineering programmes, scholarships, and courses for young people aged 8-18, reaching over 50,000 students annually across 1,300+ schools.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1966
- HeadquartersLeamington Spa, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What The Smallpeice Trust does
The Smallpeice Trust is a UK-registered charity (Charity number 313719) founded in 1966 by Dr Cosby Smallpeice, headquartered in Leamington Spa. It operates as the UK's leading STEM education charity, delivering programmes, scholarships, and engineering courses for young people aged 8-18. Its core product portfolio includes the Arkwright Engineering Scholarships (a prestigious two-year programme for students aged 16-18 with mentoring and £250 grants), Engineering Courses for ages 12-17 (online at £150 and residential at £415), and STEM in Schools programmes delivering free in-person and virtual STEM days to over 1,300 schools annually. Additional initiatives include Road to RIAT and Blast Off to RIAT (with Royal Air Force), Coding Success (funded by BAE Systems), Elevate STEM, STEM in the Community workshops, and Engineering@Home challenges. The technology underpinning these programmes is primarily experiential and relational rather than digital: hands-on activities, teacher CPD, and mentoring relationships. The charity does not develop proprietary technology platforms; its digital infrastructure consists of an online application management system for Arkwright Scholarships and use of MentorNet for mentoring connections.
The trust generates revenue through a hybrid model combining donations and philanthropy (individual giving with Gift Aid), corporate partnerships and sponsorships (over 100 partners including BAE Systems, Amazon Future Engineer, Leonardo, Royal Air Force, Avanti West Coast), trust and foundation grants (including The Emmott Foundation since 1991), modest course and application fees, and bursary contributions. Go-to-market is event-driven and partnership-based: schools must become Arkwright affiliated to nominate students, while community STEM workshops reach underrepresented young people in libraries and youth centres. The organisation employs 11-50 staff and operates exclusively within the UK, reaching over 50,000 students annually. Reporting metrics include 215 STEM events delivered in 2024/2025, 19,000 girls engaged in STEM days last year, 97% of scholars reporting increased interest in engineering, and nearly 90% of course participants inspired to study or work in engineering.
The Smallpeice Trust firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Smallpeice Trust
- Legal name
- The Smallpeice Trust
- Website
- https://smallpeicetrust.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1966
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- The Smallpeice Trust is a UK STEM education charity founded in 1966 that delivers hands-on engineering programmes, scholarships, and courses for young people aged 8-18, reaching over 50,000 students annually across 1,300+ schools.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Smallpeice Trust industry classification
Industry- Product category
- STEM Education & Outreach
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171), Educational Services (61)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure) (EDAAAEAD), STEM & Coding Readiness for Early Learners (EDACANAF)
Keywords
Where The Smallpeice Trust is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Leamington Spa
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
The Smallpeice Trust business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Donations and Philanthropy: Individual donations support the charity's programmes, with options for one-time and monthly giving. Gift Aid scheme allows UK taxpayers to increase their donation value by 25% at no extra cost.
- Corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship: Corporate partners provide funding to sponsor STEM days, courses, and Arkwright Engineering Scholarships. Partners receive CSR benefits, talent pipeline development, and brand association with STEM education.
- Trust and Foundation Funding: Charities, trusts, and foundations provide grant funding to support specific programmes. For example, The Emmott Foundation has supported 141 Scholars since 1991.
- Arkwright Engineering Scholarship Application Fees: A £45 application fee is charged for scholarship applications, though state schools and youth organizations receive two free applications per year. Pupil Premium funding can also be used by schools to cover application costs.
- Course Fees: Engineering courses for young people aged 12-17 charge fees to contribute towards costs. Online courses cost £150 while residential three-day courses cost £415. Fully funded bursary places are available for students meeting eligibility criteria.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | One time | Free STEM Days for State Schools |
| Freemium | One time | Road to RIAT and Blast Off to RIAT Programmes |
| Freemium | One time | Elevate STEM Programme |
| Subscription | One time | Online Engineering Courses |
| Subscription | One time | Residential Engineering Courses |
| Subscription | One time | Arkwright Scholarship Application Fee |
| Freemium | One time | Fully Funded Bursary Places |
| Subscription | Annual | Arkwright Engineering Scholarship Financial Award |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels11 records
The Smallpeice Trust product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Smallpeice Trust is a UK STEM education charity that delivers hands-on engineering programmes, residential and online courses, and the prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarships for young people aged 8-18. Core delivery channels include free STEM days in state schools, multi-day residential engineering courses, and community STEM workshops, alongside the two-year Arkwright Scholarship which provides mentoring, funding, and industry connections to students aged 16-18.
Product overview
The Smallpeice Trust is the UK's leading STEM education charity, offering a portfolio of programmes for young people aged 8-18. The core offerings include Arkwright Engineering Scholarships for ages 16-18, providing mentoring and funding; Engineering Courses for ages 12-17 covering various disciplines; and STEM in Schools programmes for primary (ages 8+) and secondary (ages 11+) levels. Special initiatives include Road to RIAT and Blast Off to RIAT (partnered with RAF Charitable Trust), Coding Success (free coding programme), Elevate STEM (teacher CPD), STEM in the Community, and Engineering@Home challenges. The organisation also offers a Virtual Scholarship Pathway for students unable to secure external sponsorship.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Arkwright Engineering Scholarships: Flagship scholarship programme for students aged 16-18 pursuing engineering, computing, or technical design
Products and services
- Arkwright Engineering Scholarships Prestigious scholarship programme for young people aged 16-18 pursuing engineering, computing, or technical design. Provides mentoring, funding (£250 grant for each of two scholarship years for externally sponsored scholars), exclusive events, and networking opportunities during the two-year programme.
- Engineering Courses (Ages 12-17) Hands-on engineering courses for young people aged 12-17 during school holidays, including virtual workshops and residential experiences. Online courses cost £150 and residential three-day courses cost £415, with fully funded bursary places available for eligible students. Courses cover robotics, renewable energy, aerospace, and other engineering disciplines.
- STEM in Schools Immersive STEM experiences for primary (ages 8+) and secondary (ages 11+) state schools, including in-school workshops delivered by STEM Engagement Specialists, virtual livestreamed STEM days, and teacher CPD programmes. Over 400 free STEM days offered annually to state schools.
- Road to RIAT Free virtual STEM programme for primary school students aged 9-10 (Year 5) from state schools. Includes glider and space challenges, with winners attending the Royal International Air Tattoo.
- Blast Off to RIAT Four-stage STEM programme for secondary school students aged 11-14 exploring space through virtual and face-to-face activities, culminating in attendance at the Royal International Air Tattoo.
- Elevate STEM Fully funded multi-year KS3 (S1-S3) STEM improvement partnership for secondary schools, providing three CPD sessions per year, practical resources, and targeted support for early-career and non-specialist teachers.
- Coding Success Free coding and robotics programme for teachers and students aged 8-14, providing LEGO Education SPIKE Prime kits, professional development training, and ready-to-use lesson plans.
- STEM in the Community Free STEM workshops in community settings (youth clubs, libraries) during school holidays, reaching young people aged 8-18 in accessible local spaces.
- Engineering@Home STEM challenges for students to complete at home using household items, including rubber band cars, rocket launchers, paddle boats, and robot challenges, supported by YouTube tutorial videos.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 90% of course participants were inspired to study or work in engineering
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use The Smallpeice Trust
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
The Smallpeice Trust technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
The Smallpeice Trust partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.
- Royal Air ForcecoreKey partner for Road to RIAT and Blast Off to RIAT programmes. RAF provides sponsorship, STEM role models, and access to Royal International Air Tattoo events. The partnership combines aviation excitement with hands-on STEM learning.
- The Welding InstitutecoreTechnical institution partner supporting engineering education programmes and Arkwright Scholarships.
- University of SheffieldcoreUniversity partner collaborating on course delivery and academic credibility for engineering programmes.
- Royal NavycoreRoyal Navy supports STEM education through partnership, providing engineering role models and career insights for programme participants.
- IMI (Institute of Mechanical Engineers)coreProfessional engineering institution partner supporting Arkwright Scholarships and STEM education.
- UKNNL (UK Nuclear Nucleonics Laboratory)coreNuclear industry partner supporting STEM education and future engineering talent in nuclear sector.
- University of SouthamptoncoreUniversity partner collaborating on course delivery, academic expertise, and university pathway guidance for students.
- Royal Academy of EngineeringcoreFellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (John Armstrong) is a friend of the trust. The Academy runs related Engineering Leaders Scholarship programme that complements Arkwright Scholarships. John supports both programmes and connects Arkwright alumni to Academy opportunities.
- MentorNetcoreOnline secure mentoring platform used to connect Arkwright Scholars with mentors. Sponsored scholars receive individual mentors while virtual scholars have access to group mentors through the platform.
Scale indicators14 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Smallpeice Trust competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET): Major UK professional engineering institution with education programmes, scholarships, and STEM outreach. Established partner of Smallpeice but also operates parallel scholarships and Faraday education resources.
- British Science Association: UK charity running the CREST Awards, British Science Week, and school engagement programmes. Competes for science-curriculum-aligned school funding and corporate science-education sponsorships.
- Royal Academy of Engineering: UK's national academy for engineering, running adjacent Engineering Leaders Scholarships and outreach programmes. Larger institution with broader policy remit, but directly overlaps with Arkwright's scholarship and alumni-development mission.
- Institute of Physics (IOP): UK professional body delivering physics education outreach, teacher CPD, and school engagement. Overlaps with Smallpeice's STEM-in-Schools programme but biased toward physics rather than engineering.
Direct peers
- Primary Engineer: UK STEM education charity focused on engineering activities for primary and secondary pupils, including the Leaders' Award competition. Directly competes for school STEM-day bookings and corporate sponsorship.
- EngineeringUK: UK-based not-for-profit promoting engineering careers through programmes like Tomorrow's Engineers and the Big Bang Fair. Competes for corporate sponsorship aimed at engineering-talent pipeline development.
- STEM Learning: UK charity (formerly STEMNET) providing STEM education resources, teacher CPD, and school engagement programmes. Direct competitor for school STEM days and teacher training contracts in the UK market.
- Engineering Development Trust (EDT): UK-based charity delivering STEM education, industrial placements, and engineering courses to young people aged 11-21. Closest direct peer, with overlapping programmes (Industrial Cadets, Tomorrow's Engineers) and similar school-distribution model.
Emerging players
- Apps for Good: UK ed-tech charity delivering technology and coding education to school students. Competes indirectly for the same school-distribution channels and corporate partnerships (e.g., BAE Systems-funded computing programmes).
- Code Club: International nonprofit running free coding clubs for 9-13 year olds. Overlaps with the Coding Success programme and competes for the same volunteer-mentor pool and primary-school engagement.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
The Smallpeice Trust social profiles
Digital presenceThe Smallpeice Trust financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Smallpeice Trust leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles22 records
The Smallpeice Trust funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Smallpeice Trust 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 The Smallpeice Trust
What does The Smallpeice Trust do?
The Smallpeice Trust is a UK STEM education charity that delivers hands-on engineering programmes, residential and online courses, and the prestigious Arkwright Engineering Scholarships for young people aged 8-18. Core delivery channels include free STEM days in state schools, multi-day residential engineering courses, and community STEM workshops, alongside the two-year Arkwright Scholarship which provides mentoring, funding, and industry connections to students aged 16-18.
Is The Smallpeice Trust a public or private company?
The Smallpeice Trust is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was The Smallpeice Trust founded?
The Smallpeice Trust was founded in 1966. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is The Smallpeice Trust based?
The Smallpeice Trust is headquartered in Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does The Smallpeice Trust make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Donations and Philanthropy is the primary driver. The others are corporate Partnerships and Sponsorship, trust and Foundation Funding, arkwright Engineering Scholarship Application Fees and course Fees.
Who are The Smallpeice Trust's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), British Science Association, Royal Academy of Engineering and Institute of Physics (IOP). Direct peers are Primary Engineer, EngineeringUK, STEM Learning and Engineering Development Trust (EDT). Emerging players are Apps for Good and Code Club.
Does The Smallpeice Trust have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Smallpeice Trust.
What industry is The Smallpeice Trust in?
The Smallpeice Trust's product category is STEM Education & Outreach. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGADAG, STEM, Digital Literacy & Maker Education Nonprofits, with a secondary code of EDAAAEAD, Professional & Applied Skills Noncredit Certificates (Non-licensure). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.