From the playground to the energy transition: How our latest Kids in Sport event helped inspire the next generation

There are some school days children remember for years. 

Not because of a test they aced or a lesson from a textbook, but because someone opened a door they never knew existed. 

For 61 Year 5 and 6 pupils at Summerfield Primary School in Leeds, such a moment came not in a classroom, but through football drills, coding challenges, cycle-powered cars, first aid workshops and even live broadcasting sessions – as we brought E.ON Next’s nationwide Kids in Sport programme to the school for a day dedicated to confidence, curiosity and possibility. 

Hosted in a city also home to npower Business Solutions, the event transformed familiar school surroundings into a showcase of the careers, technologies and skills shaping both modern sport and Britain's energy future. 

More than a sports day 

Across the day in Leeds last month, pupils explored the vast network of professions that make modern sport possible – from media and communications to healthcare, sustainability, engineering, performance science and technology – while taking part in practical activities that brought those careers vividly to life. 

England Football coaches led fast-paced skills sessions, helping pupils develop teamwork, agility and resilience. 

Presenter Steph Wentworth introduced pupils to the world of broadcasting, building confidence in communication and public speaking. 

Pupils learned vital emergency response skills through sports first aid workshops, while Enovation Consulting delivered STEM and sustainability sessions using coding challenges with Sphero robots alongside interactive games exploring the UN Sustainable Development Goals. 

As our video of the event – which can be seen on YouTube here and below – shows, one innovative activity came through cycle-powered racing cars, where pupils generated electricity through their own physical effort – creating an engaging demonstration of the relationship between energy, movement and sustainability. 

By the end of the day, outstanding effort and enthusiasm were recognised with awards, while every participant received an E.ON Next sports kit including a notebook, cap, water bottle and branded bag. 

Yet the biggest takeaway was harder to package. 

When asked to describe the experience in a single word, the children answered with an outpouring of excitement. 

The array of adjectives they said suited the event ranged from “joyful” and “fun” to “interesting”, “awesome”, “jaw-dropping”, “inspiring”, “amazing”, “magnificent” and “memorable”. 

Those reactions speak to exactly what Kids in Sport is designed to achieve. 

Inspiring the children who will power tomorrow 

At its heart, Kids in Sport reflects something much bigger than physical activity. 

As Britain accelerates towards a lower-carbon future, the country faces a growing need for engineers, technicians, coders, sustainability specialists, communicators and skilled tradespeople capable of delivering the energy transition. 

That transition will certainly be built through technology and infrastructure. 

It will also be built by people – and they are sitting in today’s classrooms. 

For E.ON UK – whose purpose is to make new energy work for everyone – investing in young people is therefore not separate from the company’s mission.

It is a fundamental part of it. 

As one of the UK’s largest energy suppliers and infrastructure providers, currently serving 5.6 million households and 370,000 businesses, our work reaches far beyond energy bills and power networks.  

Our Kids in Sport programme has become one of the ways we bring our other purposes to life. 

Now in its third year, the Kids in Sport initiative has travelled across the UK, combining sport with practical learning in science, technology, sustainability, communications and health.  

Making new energy work – in classrooms and communities 

Speaking at the Leeds Kids in Sport event, Fern Whittock, UK Partnerships & Sponsorships Manager at E.ON UK, explained why programmes like Kids in Sport have become such an important part of the company's community investment. 

She said: “We are really excited to be here today at Summerfield Primary School in Leeds – which is also home to npower Business Solutions.

“Today’s all about inspiring the next generation. By combining hands-on learning with sport, we’re helping show young people that energy is about more than keeping the lights on. 

“It’s about innovation, opportunity and the careers of tomorrow. And for us at E.ON UK, this is central to our purpose of making new energy work – not just in homes and businesses – but in our communities too

“Because the energy transition won’t happen without people – and especially young people who are curious, confident and ready to build the future.”

Scott Somerville, Director of External Affairs at E.ON UK – pictured above – added: “Not least because it’s the home of our npower business, Leeds is a city we’re proud to be part of and one we know well. That made it the perfect place to host the latest event from our touring Kids in Sport initiative, as we help to inspire the next generation through the power of sport. 

“These events are about opening young people’s eyes to the wide range of careers connected to sport and the valuable life skills it builds – from teamwork and resilience to confidence and ambition. It’s not just about what happens on the pitch; it’s about all the roles behind the scenes that make those moments possible. From energy engineers to low carbon specialists, there are many exciting career paths that can grow from a passion for the game. 

“We’ve been delighted by the response here in Leeds and we are excited to build on this momentum, bringing Kids in Sport to more communities and inspiring even more students in the future.” 

Those same ambitions were reflected by the teachers who watched the day unfold. 

Sarah Newton, a Year 6 teacher at Summerfield Primary School, said: “The things the children have done today through Kids in Sport have been absolutely groundbreaking for the children of this age because they've had great opportunities to learn about careers, about how to grow in the workplace and how important it is to stay fit and healthy. It’s been a super experience.”

Elisha Santos, Year 5 Teacher at the school, added: “It’s been a delight to host E.ON Next’s Kids in Sport at Summerfield today. This has been a real treat for our Year 5 and 6 students to see the possible career avenues in sport.

“Getting the kids learning in an active way is always really effective and the range of workshops mirror a lot of what they’re learning in the classroom.

“I’ve really seen some of the children who struggle with both confidence and resilience at times flourish in these workshops, which has been lovely to see. I’m sure the kids will remember what they’ve learnt today for a long time and we hope that E.ON Next come back again.” 

Investing in Britain’s future 

The Leeds event is further proof we are committed to investing in young people – a commitment also seen in the fact we have been named the Best Place to Work for 16 to 34-year-olds in the UK, and ranked among the Top 10 of The Sunday Times Best Places to Work 2026 awards for the second year in a row. 

It is part of our recognition creating a cleaner, smarter energy system is not simply about installing new technology. 

It is about ensuring the next generation believes they have a role within it. 

Sometimes that journey begins with a football, a coding challenge or a child discovering  they can generate electricity simply by pedalling a bike. 

And sometimes it begins with a single school day which reminds young people their future may be far bigger than they imagined. 

For more on our Kids in Sport – and Women in Sport – initiatives, click here.