Break new ground with our innovate skills builder

Celebrate Women in Engineering Day on Tuesday June 23. 

We’ve compiled activities from stage 2, 4 and 6 of the innovate skills builder (sponsored by Rolls-Royce), to give you some inspiration and real ideas of what girls can do to mark the day.  

Skills builders are designed to build skills in stages – most units typically complete 1 skills builder stage a term, including several activities. They help ensure girls are growing and learning new things, while having fun. Innovate is one of our most popular skills builders with activities suitable for every section and age – so there’s no reason to miss out! 

Innovate stage 2 for Rainbows and Brownies 

I have an idea - are you ready to become an inventor?  

It’s a memory test as well as a chance for girls dream up and design their own inventions. What new ideas are out there waiting to be discovered?  

Top tip: Be inspired by the story of the hairbrush, invented by Lyda Newman in 1898 with synthetic bristles to help manage Afro hair, now used by women with all hair types. 

Edible architecture - get creative in this delicious construction challenge.  

This activity helps girls think about the engineering behind how to create a firm foundation and what kind of materials you need to build a solid structure.  

Personalise it! Savoury or sweet, which is tastier? Do a poll with girls to decide.

Find out more about innovate stage 2.

Innovate stage 4 for Guides

It's not brain surgery - for any operation you need a surgeon, but did you know you also need an engineer?  

Become a clinical engineer and get creative designing surgical equipment to save your patient’s life.  

Remember the ‘Operation’ game? This is a super-crafty, do-it-yourself version – to put your stamp on the operating table and become a clinical engineer!  

Binary beads – dives into the codes hidden in our phones and computers.   

It’s an activity that combines codes with creativity to create a computer science-themed bracelet or necklace. 

Try this one to design your own charm bracelet to swap with a friend and share coded messages!  

Find out more about innovate stage 4.

Innovate stage 6 for Rangers

It fits like a glove - engineer a user-friendly product that’s comfy to use and ensures people don’t get injured.  

Think carefully about constructing your product – what do you need your materials to do, bend, stretch, expand? Choose and assemble thoughtfully!  

Think big! What’s your dream life hack? An example is a grip ring on the back of your phone case or sunglasses with a rubbery frame that don’t slip. 

Sound it out - what’s that noise? Could you make it louder or get rid of it?  

Rangers can try out becoming an acoustic engineer and use different materials to change sound levels and compete against each other.  

Acoustic engineering is a job that lets you control sound, making it louder or quieter or improving the quality. Acoustic engineers design headphones, speakers and more. Are you a music fan? If so, maybe it’s a job for you!

Find out more about innovate stage 6.

How girls have been using the innovate skills builder

As part of our #UKPW Parliament Week meeting we had a go at building ‘Big Ben’ (Elizabeth Tower) for the Innovate Skills builder stage 3 badge activity Build it up.@girlguiding #parliamentweek #construction #bigben pic.twitter.com/OjeaeC1CQR

— 1st Hampton (Herne Bay) Brownies (@1sthamptonbr) November 28, 2025