Former Ealing Primary School Teacher Wins Innovation Award
Laura Cross holds STEM workshops for younger children
Laura Cross with her award
October 15, 2025
Local resident and former Ealing primary teacher Laura Cross has won Silver in the “Best Businesswoman Working with Children & Families” category at the 2025 Best Business Women Awards.
Laura is the founder of Inventors & Makers, an education company she started in Ealing that delivers hands-on STEM workshops, after-school clubs and virtual sessions to children aged 2–11.
What began in a single Ealing classroom has now grown into a nationwide network of teacher-run franchises, helping children across the UK learn through creativity, curiosity and invention.
“I started Inventors & Makers here in Ealing because I wanted to show children that engineering and design can be creative, hands-on and for everyone,” says Laura. “To be recognised in a national award alongside so many brilliant women working with children and families means a lot, especially knowing how far we’ve come from those first few workshops right here in Ealing.”
Inventors & Makers’ mission is to inspire every child to see themselves as an inventor and engineer, so they grow up knowing they can shape their world. Their hands-on and creative workshops help children develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed in STEM.
Laura Cross (left) at one of her workshops
The business continues to grow from its Ealing roots, now supporting schools, nurseries, museums and libraries across the UK, as well as providing opportunities for qualified teachers to retrain as Inventioneers and run their own local STEM education businesses.
The Best Business Women Awards, founded by Debbie Gilbert, celebrates female entrepreneurs from across the UK who demonstrate excellence, innovation and passion in their fields.
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