Our Partnership with W5

Almac’s partnership with W5, an award-winning science, discovery, and education centre based in Belfast, is an example of our commitment to invest in the next generation of scientists, engineers and technologists. Our MEDLAB exhibit is an interactive exhibition area developed in partnership with W5 and allows children and their families to discover how medicines are developed. This year W5 had over 270,000 visitors.

As part of Almac’s work experience programme, 163 students gained valuable practical biology and chemistry skills, taught by Almac scientists, in the W5 laboratory.

Science-in-a-Box

Almac Group has strengthened its strategic partnership with STEAM Education Limited by continuing to deliver the ‘Science in a Box’ initiative for 10–11-year-old students for the fourth consecutive year. This curriculum-aligned programme was introduced to an additional 16 primary schools across Northern Ireland providing 600 pupils with high-quality STEM learning resources. This takes our total impact to 62 schools and 3,600 pupils. Each school receives a comprehensive Science-in-a-Box package, which includes replenished materials, a training webinar, and ongoing support from both Almac and STEAM Education Ltd.

In addition, Almac STEM Ambassadors actively engage with participating schools through interactive presentations and hands-on scientific demonstrations.

Climate Action in a Box

In the past year we also launched our ‘Climate-Action-in-a-Box’ programme which is a five lesson, hands-on resource specifically designed to engage and educate children with a solution-based programme exploring climate change and action.

Almac is investing £30,000 in the programme and we aim to reach out to 2,000 children across 40 primary schools in Northern Ireland over the next three years.

St Francis’ Primary in Lurgan, NI is one of six local primary schools who have received the programme resources as part of the initial roll out. World Around Us and Eco Coordinator Dwyer Coleman said: “This is an amazing opportunity given to us by Almac and their new initiative. These resources will help make understanding Climate Change real for our pupils in Primary 6.

It’s fantastic to see a local business supporting our community with real practical learning opportunities for our children. It will also support us across the range of activities we need to complete as part of our eco flags accreditation.”

School visits

This year, our dedicated STEM Outreach team supported 75 events, including 11 scientist visits to primary schools. The team also hosted a STEM tent with interactive activities and experiments at the Almac Fun Day in Craigavon, NI.

Almac Group was thrilled to partner with NI Science Festival and be an Arts and Business NI Investment Programme recipient for ‘Chemistry and the Celts’, a show created and delivered by Scientific Sue, that brings the world of the Irish Celts to life through the magic of chemistry. The show has been delivered to audiences all over Ireland, with special performances for Almac staff and their families.

Almac team members have actively participated in delivering presentations and attending career conventions at various schools, colleges and universities to help facilitate our STEM activities.

Work Experience

Throughout the year, Almac’s Craigavon facility welcomed pupils from schools across Northern Ireland as part of our work experience programme. This initiative offers an invaluable, hands-on opportunity for young people aspiring to careers in STEM.

We delivered a series of three-day programmes, engaging nearly 300 pupils in interactive tours and practical workshops. Highlights included a day at the Almac W5 laboratory in Belfast, direct engagement with industry professionals, and an introduction to the wide range of rewarding career paths available within Almac.