Gatwick Airport will be headline sponsor for the Big Bang Fair South East, which boasts a position as the UK's biggest single celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) for young people.

Over 10,000 children from around 200 schools are expected to attend the fair, which will also host the regional heats for the prestigious Big Bang UK Young Scientists & Engineers of the Year competition. The competition is open to all 11-18 year-olds who have completed a STEM-related school project.

Gatwick’s sponsorship is part of airport's education programme to highlight the importance and relevance of STEM subjects in the world of work, including at the airport, which hosts 24,000 employees.

Bringing the subjects to life, airport staff – including its Chief Operating Officer and Head of Engineering - will be on hand to answer questions and run displays in the Gatwick Zone at the fair, which was attended by over 6,500 young people last year.

Also bringing STEM subjects to life, the airport hosts monthly Learn Live interactive broadcasts live from Gatwick, with students introduced to a wide variety of career paths and employees working in STEM-related careers at Gatwick.

Overall, Gatwick's education programme is designed to help local young people gain confidence, raise aspirations and present opportunities that they may not otherwise have had. Other initiatives include bespoke, structured programmes for around forty local students each year.

This is the third year in a row that Gatwick has been the lead sponsor for the Big Bang Fair South East, which will take place across two days on 26th and 27th June, 2019 at the South of England Showground, near Ardingly, West Sussex.

Gatwick Airport’s Community Engagement Manager, Paula Aldridge, said: "We are delighted to be the headline sponsor of the Big Bang Fair South East once again. Gatwick is passionate about inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers and this event gives us an opportunity to invest in our local community to help ensure that they benefit from Gatwick's success, both now and in the future.

"Our objective as an airport is to inform the next generation of local young people about the diverse range of jobs that STEM skills are needed for, to bring them to life in an airport context and to help to build a pipeline of talent for the future".

Head of STEM Sussex, Bronagh Liddicoat, said: "I am delighted Gatwick Airport is again offering its top level support to the 2019 Big Bang Fair South East – enabling the showcasing of innovative science, technology and engineering, and the related career path opportunities, to young people and teachers within the local community.

"The Big Bang Fair South East, with Gatwick's input, will support the government's new careers strategy, by enabling young people to meet scientists and engineers at a vibrant two day celebration of STEM. The event has become a benchmark in school calendars, with those who attend confirming the huge impact and enjoyment it creates".