Giving New Life to Old Equipment

In 1985, Steve King was a student at Acle High School, working closely with Mr Bondi, a teacher aide in the woodworking and metalworking departments, later part of Design and Technology. The workshop was grounded in practical skill, material understanding, and pride in workmanship. Those early experiences shaped Steve's respect for engineering and set him on a path into advanced materials manufacturing.

One detail from that time remains clear. Mr Bondi drove a three wheeler reminiscent of Del Boy's Reliant Regal. It became part of the workshop's character. Practical, modest, and memorable. The spirit of that era was simple: work with what you have and make it count.

Years later, Steve founded Emkay Plastics Ltd, building the company into a specialist supplier of high performance materials serving industries such as Formula One and aerospace. Over more than two decades, Emkay established itself at the forefront of advanced materials manufacturing.

Returning to Acle High as a business owner, Steve brought with him high performance structural foam used in elite engineering applications. His intention was straightforward. Provide students with access to the same category of material used in world class motorsport and aerospace projects.

During this return, a broader issue became evident. Many schools, particularly within Design and Technology, were operating under increasing financial constraints. Budget limitations were restricting creativity and limiting access to quality materials.

Rather than treat this as a one off donation, Steve used Emkay Plastics as a vehicle for wider change. The company formalised its commitment to education, regularly donating surplus equipment and advanced materials to schools, STEM racing programmes, Formula Student teams, and research initiatives. This ensured that valuable resources remained in productive use while supporting institutions facing shrinking budgets.

In 2025, recognising the scale of the need, Emkay created SchoolAid as a dedicated platform, launching in early 2026. SchoolAid extends beyond Emkay's own contributions. It provides a structured marketplace where businesses across industries can list surplus materials and unused technology that might otherwise go to waste, making them accessible to schools and educational programmes.

What began in a school workshop in 1985 evolved into a company serving high performance engineering. That experience then came full circle, identifying a gap in education and building a structured solution. The objective remains consistent: remove barriers, strengthen the link between industry and the classroom, and ensure the next generation has access to the materials that turn ideas into engineering reality.