MAC Ltd donates science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) resources, science centre tickets and calculator sets to Southampton Hospital School, supporting children whose education has been interrupted by illness.
Southampton, Hampshire – Multiple Access Communications Limited (MAC Ltd), the employee-owned wireless engineering and signal processing specialist based at the University of Southampton Science Park, is celebrating its 40th anniversary by making a STEM-related donation to Southampton Hospital School – the specialist school that provides education to children and young people whose schooling has been disrupted by illness or medical need.
Founded in 1986 by Professor Raymond Steele – a pioneer in the foundational research behind modern wireless communications – MAC Ltd has grown from its early roots in cellular radio planning into a world-leading provider of advanced signal processing and software-defined radio (SDR) solutions. Today, the company works across the security, defence and space sectors and became fully employee-owned in April 2025.
To mark four decades in business, MAC Ltd has chosen to give back to the local community by supporting Southampton Hospital School, which serves pupils across three settings: bedside one-to-one teaching on the wards at Southampton Children's Hospital; full-time provision at Bursledon House for children with longer-term medical needs and outreach home tuition helping young people reintegrate into mainstream education and access mental health support.
The donation package has been carefully chosen in collaboration with the school and includes:
- 40 x Winchester Science Centre tickets – one of the school's most-loved regular outings, with the school aiming to visit every half-term. The vouchers will help ensure those trips can continue for pupils across all three settings.
And a further 40 STEM-related items, including:
- GCSE-level scientific calculators – enabling Year 11 pupils to continue with their mathematics and science studies regardless of where they are learning.
- ELECFREAKS micro:bit Smart Greenhouse Kits – BBC-supported, hands-on STEM kits that will help the school develop a new STEM-themed sustainability garden at Bursledon House. The project forms part of an exciting initiative to help transform a plot of unused land adjacent to Bursledon House into a sensory garden and outdoor learning space.
“Our customer base has evolved over the last 40 years, but we have always remained true to Professor Steele’s founding ethos of engineering excellence and a desire to always do our very best to serve our customers. Marking this milestone by supporting Southampton Hospital School feels entirely in keeping with that spirit. These young people are facing difficult challenges and it is a privilege to play a part in supporting their education.”
- Peter Gould, Managing Director, MAC Ltd
MAC Ltd's support does not end with the physical donation. Peter Gould has been invited to take part in Southampton Hospital School's regular careers talk programme later in the year, where he will speak to pupils about careers in STEM, inspiring the next generation of engineers from within the School's own community.
The company's connection with education runs deep. MAC Ltd has been based at the University of Southampton Science Park (which is also celebrating its 40th anniversary co-incidentally) since its inception, has long-standing ties with the University of Southampton and has welcomed generations of engineering graduates into its team over four decades. Supporting young people’s access to education, whatever the obstacles, is a cause that resonates strongly across the business.
Notes to Editors
About MAC Ltd – Multiple Access Communications Limited (MAC Ltd) is a UK-based, employee-owned SME with world-leading expertise in the research, development and design of advanced signal processing solutions and software-defined radio (SDR) for wireless communications, electronic sensing and spectrum survey. Founded in 1986 by Professor Raymond Steele, the company is headquartered at the University of Southampton Science Park.
www.macltd.com | enquiries@macltd.com
About Southampton Hospital School – Southampton Hospital School provides education to children and young people in Southampton Children's Hospital, at Bursledon House (full-time provision for longer-term medical needs) and through outreach home tuition supporting reintegration into mainstream schooling and mental health provision.
southamptonhospitalschool.co.uk
24 June 2026