BASF launches ScienceXperience in Bradford on UK Manufacturing Day to inspire the next generation of women in STEM 

• BASF in the UK expands its flagship science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) outreach programme, bringing hands-on science experiences to secondary school students.
• The inaugural ScienceXperience event welcomed 11 girls from Bradford Forster Academy, supporting BASF's ambition to encourage greater participation in STEM among underrepresented groups.
• ScienceXperience connects classroom learning with real-world science and manufacturing while showcasing diverse STEM career pathways and role models.

Bradford, UK – Yesterday, 24 September 2026, BASF launched its flagship STEM engagement programme, ScienceXperience, at its Bradford manufacturing site, welcoming 11 girls from Bradford Forster Academy for a day of hands-on scientific discovery, experimentation and career inspiration.
 
The launch coincided with UK Manufacturing Day and highlighted the important role that science and manufacturing can play in inspiring future careers. 
 
Originally developed for primary school pupils, the Bradford launch marks a new chapter for the programme, which has been adapted for secondary schools. The inaugural event focused on girls and young women, reflecting the programme's aim to build science capital among underrepresented groups and encourage more young women to pursue STEM pathways and careers, with women currently accounting for just 29% of the UK's STEM workforce.
 
Florian Rohrbacher, Site Manager at BASF Bradford, said:
"ScienceXperience is about opening doors and broadening horizons. We want young people to see that science is for everyone and that STEM careers can be both exciting and impactful. By welcoming students into our site, we can bring science to life, demonstrate how chemistry helps solve real-world challenges and showcase the rewarding careers available in manufacturing."
 
Harriet Bean, Senior Quality Management Coordinator and Process Chemist at BASF Bradford and ScienceXperience Lead, commented:
"As a former apprentice, I know first-hand how transformative opportunities in STEM can be. My apprenticeship gave me the skills and confidence to build a rewarding career in science. As a woman working in STEM, I'm passionate about helping more girls see that science and manufacturing offer exciting opportunities and a wide range of career paths. I'm delighted that our first ScienceXperience event in Bradford focused on inspiring young women to consider a future in STEM."
 
ScienceXperience has been developed with the guidance and support of science education expert Professor Leigh Hoath of Leeds Trinity University. The programme is designed to help young people explore the exciting world of science and gain a better understanding of how STEM subjects can lead to rewarding careers through hands-on experiments and direct engagement with people working in industry.
 
Professor Leigh Hoath added:
"Until now, ScienceXperience has focused on primary school pupils, so this expansion is a fantastic opportunity to show girls what science can look like beyond the classroom and inspire them to consider a wider range of STEM careers. By connecting learning with real-world applications and introducing students to scientists working in industry, we can build confidence, spark curiosity and help more young women see STEM as an exciting pathway to their future."
 
During the event, students took part in a series of interactive experiments and activities while meeting scientists, engineers and manufacturing professionals from across the Bradford site. The programme was designed to showcase the wide range of career opportunities available within science and manufacturing, while helping to challenge common perceptions about who can pursue a STEM career.
 
Ellen Parsons, Progress Leader of Science at Bradford Forster Academy who accompanied students said:
“Our students from Bradford Forster Academy gained a great deal from their visit to BASF. They thoroughly enjoyed the practical laboratory experiments and were particularly impressed by the knowledge and enthusiasm of the staff, who took the time to answer their questions in depth. The tour of the facilities helped bring their classroom learning to life, allowing them to see chemistry in action on an industrial scale. Students also showed a strong interest in the apprenticeship and career pathways available and valued the opportunity to speak with employees who had progressed through these routes themselves. The visit was both inspiring and informative, and a fantastic experience for all involved.”
 
BASF plans to continue developing the programme in Bradford, building partnerships with local schools and communities to help create greater awareness of STEM opportunities and support the development of the future workforce.

 

About BASF

At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. Our ambition: We want to be the preferred chemical company to enable our customers’ green transformation. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 95,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises, as core businesses, the segments Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, and Nutrition & Care; our standalone businesses are bundled in the segments Surface Technologies and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of around €60 billion in 2025. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the United States. Further information at www.basf.com.

 
Notes to Editors

• BASF supplies products and solutions to a wide range of UK industries, including agriculture, automotive, chemicals, construction, energy and pharmaceuticals. The company employs around 500 people in the UK and operates six manufacturing sites, from Littlehampton on England's south coast to Callanish on the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. BASF's UK activities also include research collaborations such as the British Alliance for Research and Innovation (BARI) with Imperial College London.
• BASF Bradford is a dedicated manufacturing site for dispersions and additives. Dispersions and additives produced at the Bradford site are used as dispersants, thickeners and speciality components in paints, inks and coatings that are applied in various industries such as automotive, furniture, printing and cosmetics. 
• ScienceXperience is BASF's UK STEM outreach programme, developed with the guidance and support of Professor Leigh Hoath of Leeds Trinity University. The programme connects curriculum-based learning with real-world STEM applications through practical experiments and engagement with BASF employees. The initiative supports BASF's wider commitment to education, skills development and community engagement. BASF Bradford is the fifth BASF site in the UK to develop its own ScienceXperience programme.