ACP Roadshow Takes Flight in Liverpool

On 12th February, the ACP’s 2025 Roadshow continued its national tour with an inspiring event hosted by Merchant Taylors’ School in Liverpool. Led by Chris Marshall, with support from Mike Stokes and Lee Mason, the team welcomed 136 enthusiastic students and teachers from Chesterfield High, Sacred Heart Catholic Academy, Holy Family Catholic High School, as well as the host institution itself.

Chris Marshall kicked off the day’s programme by illustrating the impact of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on the aerospace sector, touching on everything from artificial intelligence to advanced robotics. The highlight for many attendees was encountering Spot, the Boston Dynamics quadruped robot, which brought robotics and AI out of the realm of theory and into the room. Mike Stokes followed with a concise overview of pathways into professional aviation—both private and commercial—while Lee Mason captivated students with insights on how blockchain, cryptocurrency, and artificial intelligence are quickly altering career landscapes.

We were delighted to welcome Paul Bell from the North West Aerospace Alliance, who shared an inspiring overview of the diverse pathways into aviation engineering. His expertise highlighted a wide range of opportunities for aspiring professionals, from foundational apprenticeships to highly specialised roles.

The afternoon session offered a variety of hands-on opportunities, including a VR flight experience, FPV drone-flight trials, and augmented/virtual reality design platforms, sparking curiosity about how these innovations might shape their own future pursuits in aviation and beyond.

The ACP expresses sincere gratitude to Deiniol Williams, Headteacher of Merchant Taylors’ School, for the warm welcome and exceptional hospitality, as well as Gayle Hall and James O’Brien for orchestrating the event’s logistics. All participating schools are now part of the ACP Network and will remain connected to our ongoing educational resources through our website, social media, and YouTube channel.

After another successful stop on the 2025 Roadshow, the ACP looks forward to reaching even more young people in the months ahead, continuing to fuel their passion for aerospace, technology, and exploration.