Niftylift – Inspiring the Next Generation of Innovators
This week marked the return of MK Innovates a STEM Festival and we’re celebrating the incredible organisations that help make it possible.
Our Silver Sponsor, Niftylift, has been a supporter of MK Innovates since the very beginning and their ongoing commitment to inspiring young people and strengthening the region’s engineering and manufacturing talent perfectly reflects the spirit of the festival.
We caught up with Karl Digby, Niftylift’s Learning & Development Manager, to find out what continues to inspire the company’s partnership with MK Innovates and how they’re helping the next generation discover their potential in STEM.
A Partnership Built on Collaboration and Creativity
“We’ve supported MK Innovates from day one because it perfectly represents what Milton Keynes does best – collaboration, creativity, and innovation. The event brings together forward-thinking organisations across education, business, and technology, which aligns with how we approach innovation at Niftylift. As a local manufacturer with a global reach, we’re proud to champion events that highlight the region’s engineering excellence and inspire the next generation to think differently.”
Connecting Education, Industry and Innovation
For Niftylift, innovation has always gone hand in hand with investment in people. Through apprenticeships, work placements and outreach initiatives, the company ensures that young people gain meaningful, real-world experience and clear pathways into STEM careers.
“Niftylift’s success has always been rooted in innovation and investment in people. We place a strong emphasis on developing future talent, and MK Innovates mirrors this by connecting students directly with industry. It helps young people see how creativity and technical skill combine to solve real-world challenges. Supporting MK Innovates helps us play our part in sustaining the region’s long-term engineering and manufacturing capability.”
Hands-On Learning with the RC Nifty Challenge
One of Niftylift’s most exciting recent initiatives is the RC Nifty Challenge, a competition giving local students a hands-on introduction to engineering and design.
“The RC Nifty Challenge is all about making engineering engaging and accessible. It gives students a chance to design, build, and compete in a fun, practical way, building confidence, teamwork, and problem-solving skills along the way.
We’ve seen first-hand how this kind of hands-on experience can spark a lifelong interest in engineering. Our hope is that the Challenge encourages more young people, particularly locally, to consider careers in STEM and see that there’s a bright future for them in industries like ours.”
Celebrating Inspiration and Growth
After years of supporting MK Innovates, Niftylift has seen the event grow from strength to strength – both in scale and in impact.
“The enthusiasm of the students and teachers is always a highlight, seeing their creativity come to life through real engineering challenges is incredibly rewarding. It’s also been inspiring to watch how the event itself has grown each year, expanding its reach and impact across the local community.
We’ve also enjoyed collaborating with other local businesses and educators to demonstrate the depth of talent and opportunity that exists here in Milton Keynes. For us, the greatest success is seeing young people walk away from the event feeling inspired and curious about what they could achieve in a STEM career.”
MK Innovates 2025 is Milton Keynes’ biggest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths.
