The Animates Project is a children’s literacy and education program designed to inspire, inform and encourage children of primary school age into local training and careers via storytelling and creativity.

There is a pressing need for People and Places to be part of our innovation economy. Diversity across the whole innovation lifecycle brings many benefits. It is estimated that the Innovation economy needs to grow by 400,000 people to fill the emerging jobs.

This is an opportunity to inspire our children, primarily from KS1 & KS2. At this age, children are very inventive. We want them to maintain this curiosity and sense of discovery as they continue their education path. The Animates supports ambition and inspires children to dare to dream and, most importantly, share that dream with others.

Via physical and digital stories, workshops, music, and AI applications, we are creating a library of inspiring local jobs and role models, bringing the innovative work happening across our region to life. We are creating ‘WOW’ moments that will stay with a child forever.

We are currently on our third journey with the Animates characters. We have explored Inclusive Innovation with Connected Places Catapult, Tech and Life Sciences with The Knowledge Quarter and Sciontec, and we are now on a voyage of discovery with the key players in the Maritime Industry.