Alchemy at SEPI: Supporting the Next Generation of Innovators

What is SEPI?

The SEPI Programme is a major cross-community and cross-border initiative bringing together schools across Northern Ireland, the border counties, and beyond. Designed to foster good relations, personal development, citizenship, and employability, the programme challenges young people to think creatively about some of today's most pressing issues, with a particular focus on?innovation for climate action and peacebuilding.

SEPI is delivered in partnership with Co-operation Ireland, Catalyst, and Generation Innovation, organisations doing vital work to connect communities and nurture talent across Ireland.

This year's Grand Challenge asked participants to tackle a real-world problem:

"How might we help people and businesses in our local communities use clean energy and greener ways to travel?"

It's a question that sits at the heart of some of the most important conversations happening in business and society right now, and these young people rose to it brilliantly.

Our Role as Industry Partners

Alchemy was represented by two of our own,?John Mason?and?Jayne McLaughlin, who stepped in as mentors to guide student design teams as they researched, designed, and prototyped their solutions ahead of the programme's pitch events.

Their role went beyond simply sharing expertise. They were there to ask questions, offer reassurance, provide real-world insight, and help teams find confidence in their own ideas.

At the SEPI marketplace event held at the Armagh City Hotel, John and Jayne also had the opportunity to speak about what Alchemy does and the kind of work we're involved in day to day, a great chance to connect with a curious and engaged young audience.

Hearing from Our Mentors

John reflected on the experience:

"I was delighted to have the opportunity to support the SEPI programme as an industry partner. Working with young people as they researched, designed, and prototyped solutions to the clean energy and sustainable transport challenge was genuinely inspiring. Their creativity, curiosity, and willingness to tackle real-world problems head-on gave me huge confidence in the next generation of innovators."

Jayne echoed that sentiment:

"The SEPI programme highlights the power of collaboration between education and industry. It was inspiring to work alongside students as they explored innovative solutions to clean energy and sustainable transport challenges. Their enthusiasm was impressive, and it was great to see how much they developed in terms of confidence, teamwork, and presentation skills."

The Journey

The programme culminated in a series of milestone events across the region:

• SEPI Impact Day — November, White Horse Hotel
• Regional Pitch Off — December, Clanree Hotel, Letterkenny
• SEPI Climate Summit & Innovation Awards — January, Armagh City Hotel

Each event marked a step forward for the students, building on their ideas and presentation skills as they worked towards showcasing their solutions to a wider audience.

Programmes like SEPI remind us why industry engagement with education matters. The young people we worked with weren’t just students, they were problem-solvers, collaborators, and innovators in the making. By partnering with education initiatives, we not only share our expertise but also learn from their fresh perspectives and creative ideas. Seeing them develop skills, confidence, and a passion for tackling real-world challenges reinforces why investing in young talent is so important. We’re proud to have played a small part in their journey, and we look forward to seeing how these emerging innovators continue to shape a brighter, more sustainable future.