STEM Workshops in Blackburn & East Lancashire

East Lancashire was one of the global epicentres of the Industrial Revolution. Blackburn became one of the world's largest weaving centres in the nineteenth century, while Burnley was, by 1866, the world's largest producer of cotton cloth. The Spinning Jenny, one of the most important inventions of the Industrial Revolution, was developed by James Hargreaves around 1764 while he lived in the Oswaldtwistle and Stanhill area between Blackburn and Accrington. The machine allowed a single worker to operate multiple spindles simultaneously, dramatically increasing yarn production and transforming the textile industry. The Leeds and Liverpool Canal, completed through East Lancashire in the early nineteenth century, provided the transport infrastructure that connected these mill towns to the world.

James Hargreaves, who lived and worked in the Blackburn area, invented the Spinning Jenny around 1764, one of the key innovations that launched the Industrial Revolution. His multi-spindle spinning frame transformed textile production and its basic principles influenced manufacturing machinery for generations. John Mercer, born in Great Harwood between Blackburn and Accrington in 1791, developed the process of mercerisation, a chemical treatment that gives cotton fabric a silky appearance and improves its ability to absorb dyes. Mercerisation remains a standard industrial process used worldwide and represents a significant contribution to applied chemistry from East Lancashire.

BAE Systems operates a major manufacturing site at Samlesbury, located between Blackburn and Preston, producing advanced composite and metallic structures for the F-35 Lightning II and Typhoon combat aircraft, and employing around 3,000 people. The Lancashire Enterprise Zone at Samlesbury, adjacent to the BAE Systems facility, is attracting further aerospace and advanced manufacturing businesses. Blackburn College and Burnley College offer STEM courses in engineering, computing and construction, with links to the local aerospace sector. UCLan in nearby Preston provides university-level engineering and computing programmes.

BAE Systems runs a large apprenticeship programme, with opportunities at its Samlesbury and Warton sites in engineering, manufacturing, software development and project management. These apprenticeships are directly accessible to young people from Blackburn, Burnley and across East Lancashire. The aerospace supply chain in Lancashire creates further opportunities in precision engineering, composites manufacturing and electronics. Blackburn College and Burnley College provide further education pathways in engineering, computing and digital technologies. Manchester's growing tech sector is also within commuting distance, expanding the range of career options.