About Inventors & Makers
By Teachers For Teachers
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Inventors & Makers was founded in 2019 by Laura Cross, a former primary school teacher, with a mission to inspire the next generation of inventors, engineers, and problem-solvers.
Since then we've grown into an award-winning STEM education company working with primary schools and nurseries across the UK - delivering hands-on workshops, after-school clubs, CPD, and free weekly resources to over 3,000 teachers.
We believe every child deserves to see themselves as an inventor. We believe engineering should feel accessible, not intimidating. And we believe the best people to bring that to life in a classroom are qualified teachers who genuinely love what they do.
That's why every session - whether it's a workshop in a Newcastle classroom, a club in Sussex, or a nursery session in Hull - is planned and delivered by one of our Inventioneer teachers. Former teachers who've rediscovered their joy for teaching on their own terms.
Laura Cross
Founder & Inventioneer Teacher
I'm Laura and I set up Inventors & Makers in 2019 with a mission to help prepare today's children for tomorrow's world.
As well as our award-winning workshops and clubs now inspiring children all over the UK and beyond, I've been a STEM expert contributor for Teach Primary and Teach Early Years magazines and a STEM ambassador for TTS Resources.
A bit more about me - I originally trained as a lawyer and worked in the city for a few years before finding my true calling in education and teaching in some of London's Outstanding primary schools,
It was during my time leading curriculum design at a San Francisco education technology company that I started thinking seriously about the world of work that lies ahead for our children. We don't know what the jobs of the future will be, but we do know that our children will need to be adaptable, flexible and creative problem solvers.
Inventors & Makers workshops and clubs focus on developing exactly those skills - problem-solving, creativity and collaboration - through STEM and Design subjects. These skills will remain applicable forever, whatever the future has in store.
In 2024 I started our franchising journey, giving teachers the chance to rediscover their joy for teaching, on their own terms. Watching our Inventioneer network grow across the country has been one of the highlights of building this business.
Susie McAuley
Lead Inventioneer Teacher
Susie joined us in early 2022 as our lead teacher, delivering after-school clubs and workshops to schools in person and contributing to development of virtual clubs, classes and workshops.
Susie has been teaching for more than 20 years. After initially training in Scotland, she went on a big adventure and taught in International schools in Kuwait and Thailand. She then moved back to England in 2010 with her two boys and has taught in schools all over Hampshire and West Sussex ever since.
In her previous role Susie was the computing lead and STEM coordinator over a federation of schools, leading after-school clubs, STEM days, parent and community STEM workshops and teacher training from Early Years to Year 6 and even up to the local grandparents. She also worked part time for several years at a regional computing hub.
She has a passion for technology and STEM and particularly loves hands-on learning, having seen what a difference it makes to children’s engagement and excitement to learn more. She wants to make sure all children know about the options open to them in the future.
Susie is delighted to be a part of Inventors & Makers where she feels her vision for STEM is shared and she gets to be a big part of the company’s journey. She really believes there's an engineer in everyone!
Our Inventioneer Teachers
Inventors & Makers runs through a growing network of Inventioneer teachers - former school teachers who deliver our workshops and clubs in their local areas. Each one is fully trained in our programmes, holds qualified teacher status, and brings the same passion for hands-on learning that's so important to us.
Recognition & Awards
We're proud that the work our team does has been recognised by some of the leading voices in children's education and activity provision.
In 2025 Laura won Silver in the Best Business Woman Working with Children & Families category. In the same year we were named 3rd best children's activity provider in the UK by Club Hub, and were recognised as a Woman Who Achieves finalist - with judges noting they "could only admire the fabulous work that Laura is doing to support and empower children to think creatively."
Laura is also a regular STEM expert contributor for Teach Primary and Teach Early Years magazines, and a STEM ambassador for TTS Resources.
Want to join the team?
If you're a UK school teacher looking for a change - more flexibility, more joy, and the chance to do the part of teaching you always loved most - we'd love to hear from you.
Our Inventioneer opportunity gives you your own territory, full training, and everything you need to run your own Inventors & Makers business. You'd be in excellent company.
We always put children first
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All of our class leaders are qualified and experienced teachers.
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All of our leaders have Silver SEND Inclusion certification.
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Our leaders always have an enhanced DBS (criminal record) check and paediatric first aid training.
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All classes are fully insured and a risk assessment is carried out prior to each in-person session.