First Step Robotics is a thriving social enterprise that collaborates with schools, libraries, football clubs, community organisations, companies, and universities to bring hands-on robotics and STEM education to young learners.
As a community interest company based in West Lothian, Scotland, First Step Robotics is committed to making robotics education accessible to all, inspiring the next generation of innovators and problem-solvers.
In only their second-ever competition, the prestigious FIRST Tech Challenge, the First Step Robotics team (ages 12 to 16) emerged as Scottish Champions, securing a spot at the UK Nationals in Cambridge in 2024. This achievement provided the young participants with an invaluable experience, helping them develop confidence, technical skills, and teamwork abilities.
Building on this success, in 2025, the First Step Robotics team (ages 8 to 14) competed in the highly competitive VEX IQ Robotics competition, facing strong teams from schools across Scotland. Once again, they claimed the title of Scottish winners and will proudly represent Scotland in Telford, England, where they will compete against 60 top teams from across the UK.
Despite its success, First Step Robotics faces challenges, including a lack of a dedicated workspace. Constantly moving equipment between locations is difficult, especially on a tight budget.
Edoh envisions a permanent center where children can store and develop their projects, collaborate, and tinker with robotics and AI technologies. “One day, I hope to create a center where children can tinker, create, and build anything they imagine.” – Edoh Agbenokoudji
First Step Robotics (FSR) began in 2016 as DinoDro, founded by Edoh Agbenokoudji at Carshalton College, London (now part of the South Thames College Group). The initiative aimed to provide free extracurricular robotics and STEM education to young learners.
May 2017: Edoh became a STEM Ambassador in London.
February 2018: The first DinoDro STEM Outreach event was held at Clapham Library, London.
June 2018: Edoh successfully ran a robotics summer workshop for children at Gainsborough Community Library in Ipswich, Suffolk, expanding STEM education beyond London.
Edoh continued supporting at STEM events while working as a Learning Technologist at the London School of Economics and later as a Technical Instructor at the Royal College of Art in London.
In 2023, First Step Robotics officially registered as a community interest company (CIC) and began operating from Phumpheston, expanding its reach and impact.
