Quickline inspires next generation with STEM workshops in East Yorks village
INTERACTIVE: Liam Smith, engineering team leader at Quickline, demonstrating fibre splicing to children from Skirlaugh Primary School
By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor
Children at an East Yorkshire primary school have been given a hands-on introduction to the world of engineering and digital technology by Quickline.
The rural broadband provider delivered a series of STEM workshops for 80 Year 5 and Year 6 pupils from Skirlaugh Primary School.
Four interactive sessions were held at the village hall – a Quickline ‘QHub’, where the company has provided free gigabit-speed broadband for community use.
The initiative is part of Quickline’s wider social value commitments through Project Gigabit, the Government’s programme delivering lightning-fast, reliable broadband to rural communities that would otherwise miss out on commercial broadband investment.
Throughout the day in Skirlaugh, near Hull, pupils were immersed in a range of activities designed to bring engineering and telecommunications to life.
BRINGING TELECOMMUNICATIONS TO LIFE: Quickline fibre engineer Katie Hook delivering a “toolbox talk”
Working in small groups, they explored a fibre-to-the-premises demonstration board, watched fibre splicing demonstrations and gained insight into the day-to-day work of engineers during “toolbox talks” beside a Quickline van.
The sessions also included Q&A discussions with Quickline staff, giving pupils the chance to learn more about career pathways in the industry.
Fibre engineer Katie Hook – a former pupil at Skirlaugh Primary School herself – returned to the village as part of the Quickline team to help inspire the children.
“It was absolutely amazing,” she said. “The children were all really excited.
“For me, it felt like coming home, and it’s so important for us to come to villages like this and engage with young people.
“Engineering is still a male-dominated industry, so it was also brilliant for the children to see a female in the role – especially a female from their school. It shows that they can do it too.”
LEARNING: Skirlaugh Primary School children exploring a fibre-to-the-premises demonstration board with Amelia Williamson, social value executive at Quickline
Zoe Wood, class teacher at Skirlaugh Primary School, praised the impact of the sessions, highlighting the importance of exposing pupils to opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings.
She said: “The children were all so engaged with the different sessions.
“It can feel quite insular in a small village like Skirlaugh, and events like this open their eyes to new opportunities. It gave them the chance to see that the world is much bigger than their village.
“It’s also about engaging them in science and new careers, and meeting new and different people. Quickline really care about the community.”
The workshops are part of a broader programme of community engagement activity delivered alongside Quickline’s rollout of gigabit-capable broadband across rural Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
Through Project Gigabit, the company is not only improving digital infrastructure but also investing in digital skills, education and inclusion.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Quickline’s social value manager Rachel Bowerman, back, and social value executive Amelia Williamson, front right, with children from Skirlaugh Primary School
Mark Bowden, CEO of Quickline, said: “Our aspiration is to be the region’s best-loved broadband provider, and I want us to be the most customer-focused provider across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire.
“To have the chance to inspire future engineers is something we’re very proud of, and seeing the children’s eyes light up as they took part in the sessions was amazing.
“It’s brilliant that we carry out activities like this with young people, from primary school through to college students. It shows them that there are so many different opportunities available to them.”
Quickline’s Project Gigabit work has already connected thousands of homes and businesses across East Yorkshire, helping to close the digital divide and bring fast, reliable broadband to communities.
Alongside the infrastructure rollout, the company has engaged with more than 1,700 young people through STEM and careers initiatives, while also supporting community hubs with free connectivity and tackling digital poverty.
Dan Hague, Project Gigabit director at Quickline, said: “I’ve worked on telecommunications projects for the last 25 years and this is the first time I’ve had the opportunity to work on a programme which is not just delivering engineering activity – it’s bringing that activity into communities and adding real value.
“For us, it’s not just about putting cables in the ground; we’re genuinely making a difference in the communities we serve.”
Jennifer Jefferson, social impact coordinator at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, witnessed first-hand the benefits of Quickline’s community-focused approach.
She said: “Quickline’s dedicated social value team is a real breath of fresh air for us as a local authority, because they keep us updated with all the community activity they’re delivering.
“It was so heartwarming to see it in action. It showed the children they can do whatever they want to do.
“Quickline are engaging our young people, educating them and sparking their imaginations.”