Member Article

Engineering and Manufacturing stars of the future celebrated

DYNAMIC students who demonstrated enterprise and flair as part of a challenge to encourage them to pursue careers in the engineering and manufacturing sectors have been recognised.

The Schools Engineering and Enterprising Challenge is held every year to introduce young people to the world of work; promote the Engineering & Manufacturing Sector, promote apprenticeships; and develop skills, knowledge and expertise within the fields of engineering and manufacturing.

Organised by the South Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Forum, the challenge is open to schools across south Durham and gives participants the chance to develop their strengths working as a team, meet local businesses and learn skills in areas including business planning, website development, marketing, project management and research and development.

This year students were asked to design and build a remote control car and create a business plan and develop a website to support its rollout to market.

They were then asked to present their business plan and put their car through a race and an obstacle course to demonstrate its capabilities to a panel of local industry experts.

The panel included Cllr Neil Foster, portfolio holder for regeneration and economic development at Durham County Council; John Manners, MD at A Tech Industries; Brenda Wilson, Commercial Manager of the South Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Forum and Darren Race, Chairman of the South Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Forum and MD of Think Eleven Ltd.

The Overall Winners award went to Parkside School in Willington for their ‘Out of the Blue’ project. Their prize was a Formula One car experience package courtesy of Manufacturing Excellence.

The others winners of the Schools Engineering and Enterprising Challenge, which is supported by the Teesdale, Bishop Auckland and Shildon, Towns and Spennymoor area action partnerships, were:

• Best Car Design (aesthetics) – Whovians, Parkside School, Willington

• Best Car Performance (engineering and manufacturing) – SPB Inc., St. Johns School, Bishop Auckland

• Best Website – Out of the Blue, Parkside School, Willington

• Special Award – Kai Edwards (website) • Best Business Plan – Starmix, St. Johns, Bishop Auckland

• Team Commitment – Crown Racing, Staindrop School

• Outstanding Student – Bailey Wilson, Whitworth Park School, Spennymoor

Shaun Stuart, South Durham Engineering and Manufacturing Forum Manager, who organised this year’s challenge, said: “This challenge is all about promoting engineering and manufacturing as viable career options for our young people and at the same time find those students who demonstrate a real flair and imagination in these fields, potentially the stars of the future. And it’s also great fun for everyone involved.

“The judges had a particularly tough job deciding the winners this year as the standard of business plans was so high, which is fantastic because we know if we’re to ensure this region remains at the forefront of these hugely important industries, developing and nurturing young talent is essential.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Leanne English .