From Silverstone to Austin, Creative Hut has supported Mission 44 in delivering hands-on STEM experiences at some of the world’s most iconic Formula 1 events. By combining robotics, real-world exposure and inclusive engagement, the programme is helping young people see where they belong in STEM.
Creating access to inclusive STEM experiences
Established by Sir Lewis Hamilton in 2021, Mission 44 is a charitable foundation focused on building a more inclusive future for young people, particularly those from underserved communities. Its work spans education, employability and advocacy, with a strong emphasis on increasing diversity within STEM industries.
Through our existing relationships with Silverstone and Silverstone UTC, Creative Hut supported Mission 44 at the British Grand Prix, delivering a STEM-focused session for more than 50 young people from across Mission 44-supported programmes. This marked the beginning of a wider collaboration, which has since extended internationally to events including the Texas and Austin Grand Prix.
The Challenge: Making STEM relevant and engaging to young people
Across each event, the challenge is to find ways to give young people meaningful, hands-on exposure to STEM careers in a way that feels relevant, accessible and inspiring.
Many of the young people involved had limited opportunities to engage directly with industries like motorsport. At the same time, sectors such as Formula 1 continue to face challenges around diversity, with underrepresentation particularly evident among women and non-binary individuals.
Mission 44 therefore sought to create experiences that not only introduced STEM concepts, but connected them to real-world situations, role models and career pathways, and helping young people to see where they could fit within the industry.
We received a lot of feedback that the robotics activity was a highlight of the day. Our many thanks to the whole CreativeHUT team for their support and facilitation in hosting such an engaging experience that was educational, inspiring and fun!
— Katie MillerHead of Impact | Mission 44
The Solution: Hands-on STEM experiences within a world-class setting
Working alongside Mission 44, Creative Hut supported the delivery of interactive STEM sessions embedded within the Grand Prix experience.
At the British Grand Prix, this included a structured robotics challenge using LEGO Education SPIKE Prime kits, where students worked in teams to design and build moving robots capable of competing in a ‘Hopper Race’ - a task that required creativity, problem-solving and perseverance. The session combined ice-breaker activities with competitive team challenges, creating a lively, collaborative space where students could test ideas and learn through experimentation.
This model was then adapted and delivered internationally, including at the Texas Grand Prix, and most recently in Austin, where the programme focused on engaging young women already interested in STEM. In Austin, participants took part in a hands-on robotics session, coding and testing a robot to navigate a track within a set timeframe, before going on to experience the wider Grand Prix.
Across all locations, sessions were designed to balance technical learning with confidence-building, giving young people the opportunity to develop practical skills while also engaging with professionals, hearing about career journeys and exploring the broader world of motorsport.
The Impact: Building confidence, aspiration and connection
The programme has engaged young people across multiple international locations, combining hands-on STEM learning with access to one of the world’s most high-profile sporting environments.
At the British Grand Prix alone, more than 50 young people took part, working across 40 teams and competing in four heats, while international activations such as Austin brought together smaller, targeted groups - including 30 young women - to deepen engagement and focus on representation within STEM.
Beyond the numbers, the impact has been seen in how young people engage with the experience. Through robotics challenges, teamwork and exposure to real-world settings, participants developed skills in problem-solving, resilience and communication, while gaining a clearer understanding of how STEM applies within industries like Formula 1.
Experiences such as meeting industry professionals, exploring the Grand Prix itself and hearing directly from role models helped to reinforce these connections, giving young people both the confidence and context to consider future pathways in STEM.
Through LEGO and robotics, the young people we brought to Silverstone to explore STEM roles in motorsport, got a hands on opportunity to test the problem solving and resilience skills they learnt throughout their visit
— Katie MillerHead of Impact | Mission 44