STEM On Track, a hands-on engineering education programme, has gained a new sponsor in Bulgin, a manufacturer of environmentally sealed connectors and components based in Cambridge, UK. The company is funding key components for a go-kart build project at King’s Ely school in Cambridgeshire, giving students direct exposure to real-world engineering challenges.
How the STEM On Track Programme Works
The programme provides students with a “kart in a box” kit to assemble over the course of an academic year. Students then take part in a test day and competitive racing event. While the motorsport element gives students a clear goal, the programme centres on developing practical engineering skills, teamwork, and problem-solving.
Bulgin Engineer Volunteers Weekly with Students
Sean Dorling, a mechanical engineer at Bulgin, has been volunteering weekly with students at King’s Ely since October 2025. He dedicates most of this time outside working hours, though Bulgin also allocates some working time to support his involvement. Dorling draws on experience in both mechanical engineering and endurance karting to guide students on how assembly choices and setup decisions affect performance.
“Engineering is something you learn best by doing, and this programme gives students a great opportunity to get hands-on experience, understand how things work, and see the outcomes of their decisions. It’s been really rewarding to coach them as they build their skills and confidence, and I hope programmes like this help to inspire students to follow practical engineering pathways.”
Sean Dorling, Mechanical Engineer, Bulgin
Connecting Classroom Learning to Engineering Practice
The initiative links academic theory with applied practice, a gap that many education programmes struggle to bridge. Students gain a working understanding of how engineering principles translate into physical outcomes, from component selection to final race performance. Dorling’s dual background in professional engineering and motorsport makes him well-suited to explain these connections.
His participation also contributes to his path toward becoming a Chartered Engineer, a professional accreditation in the UK that requires demonstrated engineering competence and commitment to the field.
About Bulgin and Its Global Reach
Bulgin manufactures rugged connectors, fuse holders, battery holders, switches, and indicators built for use in demanding environments. The company is headquartered in Cambridge, UK, and operates offices across all major global regions. Its sales and distribution network covers 65 countries, with manufacturing facilities in the UK and Tunisia. The King’s Ely sponsorship reflects a broader effort to support STEM education at the secondary school level.
King’s Ely is located in Cambridgeshire, the same county as Bulgin’s headquarters, making the partnership a local as well as professional commitment. The programme runs through the full academic year, with the competitive racing event serving as the culmination of months of student work. Bulgin said the sponsorship aligns with its interest in developing the next generation of engineers entering the field.
