MEGA Explore Engineering Expo 2026
For the second year in a row, Construction Futures partnered with MEGA (Manufacturing & Engineering Growth & Advancement) to deliver the annual Explore Engineering Expo, an event showcasing future opportunities across engineering, manufacturing, and construction to young people across the Mid Ulster region.
On Wednesday 21st October 2026, we welcomed over 1,500 Year 10 school pupils to the Mid Ulster Sports Arena in Cookstown – the largest attended expo to date.
The Explore Engineering Expo provided an opportunity for companies and education providers to promote career pathways in engineering, construction and manufacturing at a pivotal time for students, prior to choosing their GCSE subjects. Inspiring pupils and sparking an interest in the industry at an early stage is beneficial so they can take the steps to carve out a pathway that supports their future career aspirations.
Events like this are important so young people can discover the breadth of careers available and learn about pathways they may never have considered before, which will ultimately shape their future choices. Young people rarely have the opportunity to connect directly with real world engineering and construction companies, so this was a unique chance for them to experience the industry, see who works in it and understand that there is a role for everyone.
The Expo showcased the wide variety of Northern Irish companies, who had the chance to inform local students of what they do and who they hire, while promoting local industry. Represented from across the sector were construction, manufacturing, computing & software, chemical, aerospace and environmental engineering.
Elita Frid, Education & Industry Engagement Manager at MEGA, said:
“This wasn’t a typical careers fair. Our companies filled the arena with real machines, robotics and working products, and sent the engineers and apprentices who use them every day. Working with Construction Futures and our business community, we’re making sure no local talent is left behind.”
Through our partnership with The Big Bridge, we were delighted to bring an interactive civil engineering experience to the Expo, giving students the opportunity to see engineering principles in action. A special thank you to Design ID Consulting Limited for facilitating this activity and helping bring civil engineering to life for the young people attending.
Students interacting with The Big Bridge
The afternoon Careers Fair, which was open to everyone with an interest in Engineering, saw a new record of 350 students, school leavers, jobseekers, career changers and parents, who came for careers advice and guidance on next steps into the industry.
A huge thank you to all the CEF member companies who joined us and helped make the day such a success:
