Inspiring future engineers through Minecraft with Skills Miner, in collaboration with ADS and Farnborough International

This holiday season, many families will unwrap the ever-popular game — Minecraft. 

At Enginuity, we believe in opening young people's eyes to the dynamic world of engineering and manufacturing — and our innovative tool, Skills Miner, is designed to do just that through the power of Minecraft. 

Partnering with ADS and Farnborough International to bring Skills Miner to the Pioneers of Tomorrow event at Farnborough International Airshow gave us the opportunity to showcase our Skills Miner aerospace games to hundreds of students — the future of the sector. 

Addressing the skills gap in STEM 

The engineering and manufacturing sector faces a pressing skills shortage, with SMEs especially challenged to attract qualified talent. Compounding the issue, schools often struggle to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, making it difficult to introduce students to evolving STEM career pathways. As a result, many young people remain unaware of the diversity in STEM roles and lack access to relatable role models in these fields. 

To bridge this gap, Enginuity developed Skills Miner, a game-based learning platform that leverages Minecraft Education to introduce core engineering concepts. Through Skills Miner, students tackle real-world engineering challenges in familiar Minecraft environments, experiencing problem-solving within fields like aerospace, vertical farming, and home energy. This isn’t just a game — it’s a powerful tool to help students visualize how STEM skills connect to future career opportunities in engineering and manufacturing.

Skills Miner for aerospace at Farnborough International Airshow 

At the recent Farnborough International event, Enginuity partnered with ADS and Farnborough International to showcase Skills Miner’s aerospace games, bringing them to nearly 300 new users. Thanks to their support and partnership, Skills Miner created a hands-on experience that resonated deeply with both students and educators, helping young players to grasp how engineering shapes their everyday lives. 

Skills Miner for aerospace allows users to learn about the wealth of careers in aerospace, ranging from designers to coders, and maintenance engineers to aerodynamicists and stress engineers. It showcases the different skills needed in the industry to help identify the skills needed for a fulfilling career. 

Throughout the event, attendees navigated aerospace-specific challenges in Skills Miner, exploring the skills essential for careers in this sector. With each game level they conquered, students engaged with core STEM principles and gained firsthand insight into the types of careers that await in the engineering field. 

Engagement and impact of Skills Miner 

Feedback from the  Farnborough International Airshow’s Pioneers of Tomorrow event clearly demonstrated the impact of Skills Miner on young minds: 

• Nearly 300 attendees explored Skills Miner’s aerospace games, gaining exposure to relevant skills 
• 91% of participants reported gaining new insights into engineering 
• 87% expressed increased interest in pursuing a career in engineering. 

These numbers visibly highlight Skills Miner’s effectiveness as an interactive online tool for inspiring the next generation of engineers. 

Paul Oxley, ADS Policy Director and Government Relations comments: 

“Many members are facing challenges in attracting engineering talent. We are proud to support initiatives like Enginuity’s Skills Miner product, that engage young people through play, enhance their understanding of real-world STEM applications, and inspire them to pursue careers in our sectors.” 

Expanding access to STEM 

The positive feedback from students, educators, and industry partners fuels our mission to bring Skills Miner to even more students and events. By continuously refining Skills Miner based on input from users and educators, we are committed to making STEM not only accessible but meaningful and enjoyable for the future generation. 

Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity comments: 

“We have the opportunity to change perceptions of engineering and the ability to help young people to discover hidden talents through the strengths and thinking they show whilst playing the game – and unlock rewarding careers in something they might not have even considered.” 

Explore Skills Miner 

If Minecraft found its way under your tree this year, don’t underestimate its value. What starts as play, could end as innovation in our sectors and help shape a future career. 

Ready to see how Skills Miner is sparking interest in aerospace and other STEM careers? Explore Skills Miner and discover the power of game-based learning in engineering education. 

To view other Enginuity tools developed in collaboration with ADS and Farnborough International, please visit our webpage.