At the 2025 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT25), DXC Technology held a booth with a wide range of activities designed to spark interest in IT and STEM among young people. Through handson activities focused on coding, robotics, and cyber security, the DXC team showcased realworld IT skills and inspired the next generation of digital innovators.
The TechnoZone at RIAT’s is dedicated to introducing young visitors to cuttingedge technology. DXC Technology’s booth had the aim of giving young people, primarily aged 8–16 a fun, accessible introduction to IT and STEM concepts while demonstrating what a career in these fields could look like.
DXC created interactive challenges tailored to different skill levels and interests, including a “Hack the Bank” Cyber Challenge where participants learned the basics of cyber security using commandprompt tasks and ethical hacking scenarios.
Their activities highlighted realworld tasks within IT and cyber roles, helping visitors of the stand understand how technology is used in everyday work.
Highlights
One of the standout moments for the DXC team was watching participants complete the Hack the Bank challenge. Many participants expressed curiosity about cyber security careers after completing the challenge.
Impact and Outcomes
The sessions successfully helped young people gain:
- A foundational understanding of programming
- Increased awareness of cyber security principles
- Hands-on experience with robotics
- Confidence and curiosity around STEM subjects
Several young attendees were inspired enough to enquire about DXC’s Early Careers Programme, demonstrating the event’s effectiveness in building future talent pipelines and strengthening engagement with the wider community.
David Gibson, North East STEM Lead at DXC Technology, added
“Last July, I joined 9 other DXC Ambassadors in the Techno Zone at the Royal International Air Tattoo, where we spent three days inspiring the next generation of engineers through a range of interactive experiences. These included programming robotic cars, tackling a cyber security challenge, immersing themselves in virtual reality, and learning the fundamentals of coding with Code and Mouse.
With over 170,000 visitors in attendance, the weekend provided countless opportunities for young people to engage with cutting-edge technology. By encouraging hands-on problem-solving, we helped build confidence and develop real-world STEM skills, empowering children to explore the exciting possibilities within IT.
Through DXC’s continued commitment to STEM education, we were able to share a passion for engineering in a way that was fun, accessible, and engaging. It was incredibly rewarding to inspire the engineers of tomorrow, and the curiosity and enthusiasm shown by the young people throughout the event was truly inspiring.”
Dawn Ross, Liaison Coordinator at the STEM Hub, commented:
“Through the STEM Ambassador Programme, employers and organisations are able to work closely with education settings to support young people’s learning and career awareness. This collaboration benefits students, schools and industry alike, helping to develop the skills needed for the future workforce.”
Events like these are essential, not only for raising a company’s profile but also for giving young people the chance to meet real STEM professionals.
The STEM Hub, delivered by RTC North, delivers the STEM Ambassador Programme across the North East and Yorkshire and Humber regions. The programme brings together positive role models who give their time and enthusiasm for free to bring science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) to life and demonstrate their value to young people. By sharing knowledge, experience and skills, they inspire students and demonstrate real-life applications of learning.
To find out more about the STEM Ambassador programme, click here.
