Mission to Mars
A launchpad for young tech talent
Mission to Mars is the ultimate work experience for students who want to dive into tech, tackle challenges, and have an awesome time along the way. It’s interactive, engaging, and filled with opportunities to develop essential skills like teamwork, problem-solving, and effective communication. Oh, and did we mention you’ll get to code your own autonomous robots?
years of Mission to Mars
students' futures ignited
local tech companies involved
Building skills while having a blast
Here’s the story: there’s a company that has built rovers for Mars. The hardware is ready, but the software? That’s where you come in.
You and your team will be tasked with bringing these rovers to life. Think coding, teamwork, and big ideas – it’s like you’re part of a real-life tech start-up.
- Get into teams: You’ll create a company name, come up with values, and plan your strategy.
- Solve cool challenges: There are 18 tasks to complete, each earning your team some “Core Coins.” It’s all about solving problems and managing your resources.
- Hands-on fun: Build circuits, programme the rovers, and test your code - because learning is way more fun when you’re doing, not just watching.
- Agile awesomeness: And because we do things the Agile way, you’ll learn about standups, retrospectives, and working collaboratively.
- Presentation time: At the end of the week, you’ll showcase your hard work to an audience of parents, VIPs, and even potential future employers – it's your moment to shine!
Sound good? Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know when we’re open for applications again.
“Teamwork, communication and learning how to overcome the challenge of things not working or having work being rejected are key lessons I’ve carried on into my job and current education.”
Emily Kershaw | Mission to Mars Alum
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Why join?
This isn’t your typical work experience where you just watch other people work. Mission to Mars gives you a proper deep dive into the tech world. You’ll:
- Learn new skills like coding, teamwork, and problem-solving
- Boost your confidence by tackling real-world challenges
- Explore the tech industry and see if it’s the career for you
Oh, and did we mention it’s a total blast?
Curious about where Mission to Mars could take you? Hear from past participants who’ve turned this epic experience into a launchpad for their tech journeys!
When is it happening?
Year 10 Work Experience: July 2025 – applications open in September 2024.
Holiday missions: We also run programmes during Easter and October half-term for the super keen students who don’t mind giving up their holidays.
Spots fill up fast – so don’t hang around.
Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know when we announce a new Mission to Mars.
Why it’s a big deal
Mission to Mars has been inspiring young tech talent since 2014. It’s even won awards, like the Tech South West Best Education Initiative, and has helped loads of students get their first taste of what working in tech is all about.
By the end of the week, you’ll have skills, confidence, and maybe even a clearer idea of where you want to go next. Plus, you’ll have an awesome story to tell about how you brought a Mars rover to life.
Ready to blast off? Don’t miss your chance to join our next Mission to Mars. Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know.
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“The Mission to Mars week provides a fantastic experience for learners where they gain experience of what It is like to be a “real” software developer. We find that Mission to Mars is a great opportunity for learners to gain practical key skills in programming and team working which is invaluable in future practice. Learners thoroughly enjoy the Mission to Mars experience and are incredibly proud of everything they achieve across the week.”
Naomi Johns, Programme Manager, Truro and Penwith College
Why should the kids have all the fun?
Mission to Mars isn’t just for students – we can run bespoke adult sessions too! These are perfect for team building, skills assessments, or just a fun away day!
Whether it’s evaluating candidates for an apprenticeship programme or helping remote teams connect in person, Mission to Mars Professionals gets everyone working together, communicating, and solving challenges.
And trust us, the competitive edge kicks in quickly! From HR Heads to CIOs, participants often get so hooked they’ll want to skip lunch to keep testing their rovers.
So why not let your team blast off and see what they can achieve?
Contact us today to plan your bespoke mission.
