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Background

The IED is a registered charity, based at a property called Courtleigh in Wiltshire.  The IED has owned the property since 1974, a Victorian mansion house set in 2 acres of land.  Some years ago the Trustees decided to realise the assets of the property and starting a project looking at how Courtleigh could be best utilised by the charity – and the decision made to apply for planning permission on a section of the grounds around the house. The process was drawn out and lengthy, but planning permission for the development of three houses was granted in April 2024, with the premise being that the land will be sold to a developer.

Moving forward

The Trustees are now in a position where they are seeking a project manager to move this project forward – the project requires some time and expertise to manage the various aspects of preparations for sale; liaising with legal, scoping and managing the various planning conditions, working with the land agent and, post-sale, liaising with the developers on issues such as conformation with planning conditions and potential further development and access to and refurbishment of land used for the build.

In addition to the above, the following is a short list of matters that the project manager would need to oversee:

• Draft and agree a project implementation plan in consultation with staff and Trustees
• Draw up and maintain a programme of works
• Draw up and maintain a risk register
• Draw up and maintain a decision register
• Manage sub consultants
• Monitor Project Courtleigh budget
• Prepare regular reports for Trustees and staff
• Review and advise on the governance of the project as it moves through the various phases

The Trustees are looking for an experienced project manager to work on a contract basis who has experience in the construction, highways design and planning fields, for around 1 or 2 days per week, for a period of time (to be determined). 

If you are interested in this opportunity, please contact libby@ied.org.uk with details of your experience, qualifications and hourly charge rate by 22 November.

The Engineering Council has just released its updated Guide to Professional Registration for 2024-2025, offering the latest guidance on how to achieve professional registration as an engineer or technician.

The comprehensive resource offers a clear guide for navigating the professional registration process including valuable insights for those aiming to attain this internationally recognised standard of professional competence and dedication.

Tailored to a diverse audience – including school leavers, careers advisors, STEM ambassadors, employers and HR professionals – the guide is an essential resource for anyone looking to develop engineering talent.

Having the necessary knowledge and skills is essential for working as an engineer or technician. Professional registration offers a structured framework to support career development, training, and continual improvement. This guide outlines the different pathways to achieving professional registration, whether through recognised qualifications, such as approved or accredited degrees, apprenticeships, work-based training or individual assessments.

The first step in the professional registration process is to join a Professional Engineering Institution (PEI) licensed by the Engineering Council or a Professional Affiliate (PA) with a registration agreement.

The revised publication covers:

• How the various engineering organisations work together
• What professional registration entails, including the different registration titles
• The benefits of professional registration for individuals, employers and society
• How to become professionally registered
• Detailed profiles of licensed professional engineering institutions and affiliates, outlining their specialisms, missions and the professional titles they offer
• Information on the Licensees now authorised to award professional Higher-Risk Building (HRB) registration – a new addition for this year

To download your free copy, visit the Engineering Council website.

EUK Education – a new brand from EngineeringUK – has launched to offer the teaching and careers community support and resources to inspire more young people to get into STEM and the many diverse career paths available.  

Engineering and technology employs 6.3 million people in the UK, accounting for 19% of all jobs, but the sector is facing a huge skills and labour shortage. More young people from all backgrounds are needed to create a diverse workforce and made aware of the wide range of STEM roles available and the many different routes into these careers. 

The new EUK Education site is a ‘one stop shop’ and brings together STEM programmes and best free STEM education and career resources previously hosted by charity, EngineeringUK. 

Head of Careers, Eleanor Eyre, commented “Teachers and career leaders are at the heart of everything we do. We know from our close work with schools and colleges the many challenges out there. We want to support you in the vital STEM work you do.” 

“We hope having all our fantastic free resources in one place from our flagship annual event, The Big Bang Fair, to our new Climate Schools Programme and careers and STEM resources will really help in your role of inspiring more young people into rewarding, interesting and lucrative STEM careers.” 

EUK Education offers:                                     

• Up-to-date information about careers in engineering and tech, how to get into them and what skills employers need.  
• Careers resources and activities to get young people thinking about a possible future in technology and engineering.  
• Free programmes to support teachers deliver engaging lessons that help embed curriculum content while showing how it links to real jobs. 
• Opportunities to meet and hear from inspiring people working in STEM jobs and the companies they work for.
• Funding to run STEM drop down days, access costed programmes and give students more opportunities.  
• Role models and inspiring professionals, school students can relate to.  
• Signposting to quality assured outreach activities, available online and in person.   
• EUK Education brings together everything EngineeringUK does for teachers, career leaders and young people – the engineering and tech professionals of the future.  

Tomorrow’s Engineers Week,  EUK’s annual celebration of engineering, science and tech, takes place once again between 11 to 15 November with the theme ‘Power up your passion’ showing young people engineering isn’t just hard hats and construction but about problem solving, innovation, creativity and making a difference in a wide range of careers. Linking young people to STEM employers, the week-long campaign features resources from ‘Day in the Life’ films on engineers to a panel where young people can chat to engineers about their work.   

EngineeringUK Chief Executive Dr Hilary Leevers said, “We hope having all our fantastic free resources and programmes like our new Climate Schools Programme, Energy Quest, and Tomorrow’s Engineers plus STEM resources and careers will really help the teaching and careers community – and ultimately the sector – in inspiring more young people into rewarding, interesting and lucrative STEM careers.” 

The Engineering Council would like to congratulate several distinguished registrants who have been elected as Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng).

The registrants are part of a group of 71 influential figures in engineering and technology, recognised for their exceptional contributions to research, innovation, public service and promoting engineering in their respective fields.

This year’s new Fellows reflect RAEng’s Fellowship Fit for the Future initiative, which encourages nominations from underrepresented groups as RAEng approaches its 50th anniversary in 2026. The focus is on increasing diversity among women, disabled and LGBTQ+ engineers, minority ethnic backgrounds, non-traditional education paths and early-career excellence.

Dr John Lazar CBE FBCS FREng, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said:

“Our new Fellows represent some of the most talented people in the world of engineering and are taken from the ranks of those who are aiming to address some of our most critical problems. We are proud to say that many of our newly elected Fellows have come from underrepresented groups in engineering and related sectors and we hope this helps to tackle some of the issues around a lack of diversity within the profession. There is ample evidence that a wider pool of ideas and experiences helps to improve decision-making and develop novel solutions to global challenges.”

The list of the registrants elected as Fellows includes:

Fellows (FREng)

• Will Butler-Adams OBE CEng FRGS FCGI MIMechE FREng, Group CEO, Brompton Bicycle Ltd
• Professor Paul Beasley PhD CEng FIET FInstP FREng, Industrial Professor, University of Birmingham; Former Head of UK R&D, Siemens
• Jacqueline Castle CEng FIMechE FRAeS FREng, CTO Aerospace Technology Institute
• Professor Claire Davis CEng FIMMM FREng, Head of Advanced Steel Research Centre, WMG, University of Warwick
• Dr Vania De Stefani CEng MIChemE FREng, CEO, Oil Spill Response Ltd
• Professor Bruce Drinkwater CEng FIMechE FREng, Professor of Ultrasonics, School of Electrical, Electronics and Mechanical Engineering, University of Bristol
• Ila Glennie CEng FIMechE FREng, Vice President, Subsea, BP
• Professor Stephan Jefferis CEng FICE FREng, Director, Environmental Geotechnics Ltd
• Dr Xudong Jing CEng FEI FREng, Vice President, Subsurface Excellence, ADNOC (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company) Group
• Laura Jones CEng FIMMM FREng, Fellow in Advanced Materials, Dstl (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory)
• Professor Hussam Jouhara CEng FIEI FIMechE MCIBSE FREng, Professor of Thermal Engineering and Department Director for Research, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Brunel University
• EUR ING John Kell MBE CEng FWeldI FREng, R&D Specialist, Automotive Sector Team, Advanced Manufacturing Directorate (AMD), Department for Business and Trade
• Professor Markus Kraft CEng FIChemE FREng, Professor of Chemical Engineering, University of Cambridge; Director, Cambridge Centre for Advanced Research and Education (CARES)
• Professor Qiuhua Liang CEng FICE FREng, Professor of Water Engineering and UNESCO Chair in Informatics and Multi-hazard Risk Reduction, Loughborough University
• EUR ING Neil McArthur MBE CEng FIMechE FIET FREng, CEO and Founder, Freedom Fibre Ltd; Chair and Co-founder, Hamilton Davies Trust
• Sue Partridge CEng MRAeS FREng, Airbus Commercial Aircraft UK Country Manager
• Professor Andrew Randewich CEng FInstP FREng, Executive Director and CTO, AWE
• Dan Rodenhurst CEng MIMechE FIET FREng, Director General, UK Defence and Security IT, UK Government
• Professor Shahrokh Shahpar CEng FRAeS FAIAA FREng, Rolls-Royce Fellow, Senior Aerothermal Design Specialist, Rolls-Royce; Visiting Professor, Imperial College, Aerospace Engineering
• Professor Paul Shearing CEng MIChemE FREng, Director, The ZERO Institute; Statutory Professor – Chair in Sustainable Energy Engineering, University of Oxford; Chair in Emerging Battery Technologies, Royal Academy of Engineering
• Phillipa Slater CEng MICE FREng, Director of Asset Management and Operations Support, National Grid Electricity Distribution
• Nicholas Smallwood CEng MIMechE FREng, CEO, Infrastructure and Projects Authority
• Professor Eva Sorensen MBE CEng FIChemE FREng, Professor and Head of Department, Chemical Engineering, University College London
• Terry Spall CEng FIMechE FREng, Independent Engineering Consultant and Non-Executive Director
• Duncan Wanblad CEng FIMMM FREng, Chief Executive, Anglo American plc
• Professor Simon Weeks CEng FRAeS FREng, CEO, Simon Weeks Consultancy; Visiting Professor, University of Oxford and Loughborough University
• Professor Jennifer Wen CEng FIMechE FREng, Professor in Energy Resilience, University of Surrey
• Professor Xudong Zhao CEng MCIBSE FREng, Director, Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies, University of Hull

International Fellows (FREng)

• Dr Debashish Bhattacharjee CEng MCIWEM FREng, Professor of Practice, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, India

The new Fellows will be formally inducted during a special ceremony in London on 27 November, when each Fellow will sign the roll book and support RAEng’s ongoing commitment to creating a sustainable society and inclusive economy through engineering.

Full profiles of 2024 new Fellows are available on the RAEng website.

Engineers Without Borders UK returns to Makers Valley, South Africa for the 2024/25 Engineering for People Design Challenge

18th September 2024: Engineers Without Borders UK, the organisation leading a movement to put global responsibility at the heart of engineering, has launched the 2024/25 cycle of the award-winning Engineering for People Design Challenge in partnership with Engineers Without Borders South Africa and Makers Valley Partnership.

Now entering its fourteenth year, the design challenge has reached over 87,000 students across 47 universities in five countries, and continues to grow its international reach. The 2024/25 challenge will be delivered to over 40 institutions in Ireland, South Africa, UK, and USA, with universities still able to sign up for this year’s programme.

This year’s challenge centres around Makers Valley, a cluster of vibrant yet economically disadvantaged suburbs on the eastern edge of Johannesburg. Home to around 46,000 residents, Makers Valley has experienced urban decay and high unemployment, but recent years have seen a wave of regeneration driven by social and creative enterprises. The design challenge invites students to develop engineering solutions that contribute to the sustainable development of this dynamic community.

Through a combination of design briefs, video interviews, and an interactive map, participants will engage directly with local residents, incorporating community insights into their projects. The top five submissions from each university will advance to the national stage, where they will be assessed by industry professionals. The most outstanding teams will then compete at the Grand Finals, where educational bursaries will be awarded for the Grand Prize, Runner-Up Prize, and People’s Prize.

Noluthando Mdayi, Co-CEO of Makers Valley Partnership, shared:

“We hope for a city that is safe and secure for all, where the voiceless are heard, where the environment is cared for, and where there are opportunities for thriving, not just surviving. [These] innovative ideas and engineering skills can make a lasting impact, helping to shape a future where everyone in Makers Valley can thrive.”

Tom Whitehead, Programme Manager at Engineers Without Borders UK, said:

“We are eager to see this design challenge continue to explore impactful solutions for communities and equip students with the critical skills they need to tackle global, real-world challenges.”

Universities interested in joining this year’s programme can still register. For more information on how to participate, visit www.engineering-for-people.org.

About Engineers Without Borders UK:

Engineers Without Borders UK is working to reach the tipping point to ensure a safe and just future for all. Part of a global movement of over 30 Engineers Without Borders organisations, we inspire, upskill and drive change in the engineering community and together take action to put global responsibility at the heart of engineering.

About Makers Valley Partnership:

Makers Valley Partnership (MVP) is a non-profit organisation established in 2018. Driven by the question, “What does a better community look like?”, MVP aims to support a well-being economy in the Makers Valley community through social and creative entrepreneurship. MVP envision a vibrant community with flourishing enterprises, and a clean, green, safe environment.

The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering is a global prize that celebrates the successes of modern engineering. With QEPrize winners selected from across the world, such an international prize requires a truly international trophy.

Every year, the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering trophy is found through the ‘Create the Trophy’ competition. The competition gives young people aged 14-24 the opportunity to get involved, testing their design skills using the latest in 3D-design technology. The winner receives a high-end laptop, a model of their trophy, and the opportunity to see their 3D printed winning design presented to the winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering in London, UK. In addition, the winning trophy will also go on display in the Engineers gallery at the Science Museum, which showcases engineering innovations through the lens of the QEPrize.

The 2025 competition is now open and closes on 29 November 2024.

How to enter

CREATE your trophy using the free QEPrize 3D Design Studio app.

SHARE your design to social media after applying filters and effects in the photo studio.

SUBMIT your finished design to the Create the Trophy competition!

Click here to download the free QEPrize 3D Design Studio app on iOS or here on Android devices

With engineering and technology predicted to grow faster than any other sector between now and 2030, it is imperative the new government works with industry to address barriers standing in the way of young people joining the workforce. The skills shortage in engineering and technology is already limiting growth. A strategic approach to addressing the problem will support current projects and power large scale developments such as Great British Energy. 

EngineeringUK, along with the National Engineering Policy Centre, are keen to see a National Engineering and Technology Workforce Strategy. We therefore look forward to the new government acting on its manifesto commitments to develop workforce and training plans and a post-16 education strategy and ensure that more young people gain access to apprenticeships and other training opportunities.   

The Labour manifesto also pledged to tackle careers education, promising to recruit an extra thousand careers advisers, develop a broader curriculum, and address STEM teacher recruitment and retention. With severe and growing STEM teacher shortages – just over 1,600 vacancies compared to around 1,300 a year ago – EngineeringUK is urging the government to commit to investing in teacher professional development, which research shows is not just a ‘nice to have’ but can significantly prolong teaching careers.  

EngineeringUK Chief Executive, Hilary Leevers commented, “As the new government has rightly recognised, we need to nurture a greater pool of talent in engineering and technology including more apprenticeship opportunities for young people, to meet current demand and to help our economy to thrive and to achieve our net zero goal.  

“We have been asking for a national engineering and technology workforce strategy for some time to streamline coherent action and replace the current approach of different areas developing their own solutions in isolation, and sometimes, effectively, in competition.   

“In order to address skills shortages in the future, the workforce strategy needs to link to a comprehensive education and skills plan underpinned by enhanced careers advice in schools and an urgent solution to current STEM teacher shortages.  We will be doing what we can to support the new government in taking action to turbo charge the sector.” 

Find out more about EngineeringUK policy priorities for the new government. 

Several Engineering Council registrants and their engineering peers have been acknowledged in the 2024 Birthday Honours List. The UK Honours system pays tribute to individuals who have demonstrated exceptional achievements and service. This year’s King’s Birthday Honours List features several registrants who have made significant contributions across various engineering fields and specialisms in the UK.

Attaining professional registration as Chartered Engineers (CEng), Incorporated Engineers (IEng), or Engineering Technicians (EngTech) signifies a commitment to meeting globally recognised standards of competence. This includes a personal dedication to upholding professional standards and fulfilling responsibilities to society, the engineering community, and environmental stewardship.

In particular, the Chair, trustees and staff of the Engineering Council would like to congratulate Professor Peter Moir Guthrie, Vice President and Trustee at the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng), on being awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE). This was in recognition of his services to Engineering.

The Engineering Council extends its heartfelt congratulations to all the registrants honoured this year:

Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE)

• Professor Karen Holford DBE BEng (Hons) CEng FIMechE FWES FREng FLSW

Chief Executive and Vice Chancellor, Cranfield University. For services to Engineering.

• Dervilla Mitchell DBE BE CEng MICE
  Deputy Chair, Arup Group. For services to Engineering.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)

• Professor  P. John Clarkson CBE CEng FIED FIET FREng
  Director, Cambridge Engineering Design Centre and Co-Director, Cambridge Public Health, University of Cambridge. For services to Engineering and Design.
• Paul Howarth CBE CEng FREng MNucI
  Chief Executive Officer, National Nuclear Laboratory. For services to the Energy Sector.
• Professor Washington Yotto Ochieng CBE PhD MSc CEng FICE FRIN FInstCES FREng FCIHT

Head, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Chair Professor in Positioning and Navigation Systems, Imperial College London. For services to Global Positioning and Navigation Systems.

• Professor Ian White CBE DL CEng FIET FREng
  Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Bath. For services to Higher Education and to Engineering.

Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)

• Professor Peter Guthrie OBE MSc BSc CEng FICE FREng
  Vice President and Trustee, Royal Academy of Engineering. For services to Engineering.
• Professor Richard Wakeford OBE BSc CEng MNucI
  Professor of Epidemiology, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Manchester. For services to the Advancement of the Science of Radiation Protection.

Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)

• Clara Bagenal George MBE CEng MCIBSE
  Founder, Low Energy Transformation Initiative. For services to the Built Environment and to Climate Change.
• Professor Clive Buckberry MBE BSc CEng FInstP FREng WCoE
  Co-Founder and Engineering Fellow, Quanta Dialysis Technologies. For services to Medical Engineering.
• Professor David Jones MBE BSc BA CEng FREng FIMMM
  Professor, Pharmaceutical and Biomaterial Engineering and lately Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University Belfast. For services to Education and to Pharmacy.
• Mark Jones MBE CEng MIChem
  Chief Executive Officer, Gower College Swansea. For services to Education.
• Dr Lucy Rogers MBE CEng FIMechE FREng
  Freelance Engineer and Author. For services to Engineering.
• William Young MBE CEng MICE
  Project Manager, South West College, County Tyrone. For services to Civil Engineering Education.

Medallist of the Order of the British Empire (BEM)

• Kirsteen MacDonald BEM CEng MIET
  Technical Through Life Support Lead, Air Domain, Defence Equipment and Support. For services to Defence and to Hearing Impaired Personnel.

The King’s Birthday Honours List 2024 can be found on the Government’s website.

The Engineering Council extends its congratulations to the registrants who are among the winners of the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) annual Top 50 Women in Engineering awards (WE50), announced on International Women in Engineering Day (INWED).

This year’s theme, Enhanced by Engineering celebrates the inspiring women who have significantly influenced technology, sustainability, and society. It also highlights how engineering improves our lives and underscores the vital role of diversity in driving innovation.

By achieving professional registration, these engineers have demonstrated their competence and commitment to internationally recognised standards. This includes a dedication to professional standards, ethical practice, and recognising their obligations to society, the profession, and the environment.

Congratulations to all those featured on the Top 50 Women in Engineering list, including the following registrants:

• Dr Chika Judith Abolle-Okoyeagu PhD CEng MIMechE SFHEA – Head of Department – Robert Gordon University
• Carolyn Ainsworth CEng FIET – Deputy Director Engineering – National Cyber Security Centre
• Nike Amiaka CEng FIChemE TechIOSH – Technical Professional Leader – Safety (Consultant) – Kellogg Brown & Root
• Maira Bana MEng CEng MIMechE – CFD Manager – RED Engineering Design
• Helen Alexandra Elizabeth Davis MEng CEng MICE – Engineering Manager and Lead Supervising Civil Engineer – Binnies
• Professor Judith Driscoll PhD BSc (Eng) CEng FIMMM FREng – Professor – University of Cambridge
• Ghada Elsheikh MSc BSc CEng MIET CDCDP – Associate – HDR Inc.
• Catherine Gruber CEng MIMechE – Principal Mechanical Engineer – Mott MacDonald
• Dr Abigail Hathway MEng CEng MCIBSE – Senior Lecturer – University of Sheffield
• Emma Elizabeth Hellawell CEng MICE – Principal Engineer – LEAP Environmental
• Charlotte Higgins BEng CEng MIET – Associate Director – Arup
• Hiba Akbar Khan PhD MEng CEng MICE – Civil Engineer – Mott MacDonald
• Alexandra Koutsouki DIC CEng MICE – Senior Bridge Engineer – Arup
• Dr Paula Palade PhD CEng MIET – AI Ethics Senior Technical Specialist – Jaguar Land Rover
• Misha Patel MEng CEng MIMechE – DPhil Student – University of Oxford
• Helen Rowe MEng (Hons) CEng MICE MCIOB – Structures and Tunnels Asset Manager – Kent County Council
• Barbara Sacha MSc CEng MCIBSE – Partner – Cundall
• Victoria Sharpe MEng CEng MIMechE – Managing Director – Exstent Limited
• Melanie Thrush MSc BEng CEng MCIWEM C.WEM – Principal Geoenvironmental Engineer – Arup
• Emily Walport MEng CEng MIMMM – Materials Engineer – Arup
• Claire Watson MEng CEng MCIWEM C.WEM MICE – Water Utilities Delivery Director – Binnies
• Seren White MEng CEng MIMechE – Senior Project Engineer – NP Aerospace

The full Top 50 Women in Engineering, Enhanced By Engineering list is available on the WES website.

An inspiring student has beaten hundreds to clinch the coveted title of UK Young Engineer of the Year in this year’s Big Bang Competition and a group of teens from Liverpool have been crowned as the first UK Young Technologists of the Year.

Cardiff student, Pacha Pritchard, who is in Year 12 at Ysgol Gyfun Gymraeg Bro Edern School, was awarded the UK Young Engineer of the Year for her impressive portable pollution monitor designed to test air quality in schools and residential areas, reading local air pollution data and features emojis (happy and unhappy faces) to show if the pollution is good or bad.  After receiving her Award, Pacha commented, “I’m a bit shell shocked, I think I’m going to cry but I’m incredibly happy. My project is to help raise awareness of eco issues to younger people.”

Conservationist and TV presenter Megan McCubbin crowned the engineer and technology superstars at The Big Bang Fair at the NEC, Birmingham on 19 June.

Pacha added, “I’m a massive advocate for promoting STEM to girls and getting all the opportunities out there, like the Big Bang Fair and Competition. STEM is the future and women are part of that future.”

She hopes to have a career in environmental engineering and sustainable legislation.

The Big Bang Junior Engineering Award went to St Aidan’s High School in Lanarkshire, Scotland for their project, a ‘Theme Park for the future’ using kinetic, solar and wind power.

Students Genevieve Brennan, Jamie McShane, Kevin McGuigan, Naimh Clarke, Rosa Hodge and Sam Brown impressed judges with their project to come up with ways to make a theme park more sustainable. They researched different eco-policies of British theme parks and found that not many of them had ambitious enough targets.

The students explained, “We planned, designed and modelled rollercoasters that used renewable and sustainable energy sources. Our 3 main ideas were to use wind, solar and kinetic energy produced by park visitors. We also considered ways to minimise the park’s carbon footprint, for example, by looking into locally produced food for park goers”.

Judges were impressed with their research findings and working 3D printed model and commented: “Wow! This was a really interesting project. You clearly worked well as a team and identified key roles you could all undertake. It was also great to see your tests and designs come to life through your models, sketches and proposals. We have been impressed by the level of research you have done in the different areas from the waste, renewable energy and the weather forecast to show the viability of the site!”

And The Big Bang Intermediate Engineering Award winner was Year 11 student Keon Robert, from Queen Elizabeth School in Barnet, for his project, ‘Green Pot, growing the future’. Keon’s design consists of a trough base, a dripline feature for automatic irrigation and LED lighting and uses hydroponic technique (using water instead of soil) to grow plants.

This year, a new technology stream, supported by Siemens, was introduced. The Big Bang UK Young Technologists of the Year was won by a group of 6 teenage boys from Liverpool’s The Blue Coat School for their impressive solar panels project.

Archit Chinnari, Ayush Shah, Benedict Dooley, Ciaran Scanlan, Rakesh Vaddepalli and William Dan, all Year 12 from the school in Wavertree, Liverpool, hit on the idea when one of them was having solar panels fitted to their home, and he wondered why the panels were static and didn’t move to follow the sun.

The winning design, which uses an app to automate the panels, creates 16% more energy over a year than static models. The students believe their design ‘could have a massive impact’ on green energy.

One of the students commented, “We had a solid idea. Our teacher provided us with initial advice, but it’s been our own work. Resilience was needed as we came across multiple hurdles, but we worked well as a team, using our unique set of skills, with 3 of us working on the software and 3 of us focusing on the hardware. Converting analogue to digital took a lot of dedication.”

Three Year 7 students from Olchfa School in Swansea scooped the Big Bang Junior Technology Award for their fast fashion project, entitled, ‘Remake the waste.’ The students created a Remake the waste website that promotes sustainable fashion through tutorials remaking old clothes with the goal of hoping to reduce waste and pollution.

Elisa Marsh-Lorenzo, Lorna Skippen and Rafaella Fasham, explained, “Together, we are working to raise awareness about the impact of fast fashion on the environment and mental health of those who work in the factory landfills.”

The Big Bang Competition Intermediate Technology Award was won by Akhilesh Karthikeyan, a Year 11 student at Queen Elizabeth School in Barnet, for his smart food storage idea. He conducted interviews with environmental health officers at his local authority as well as a local shopkeeper before embarking on his project.

He explained, “The product encourages customers in retail environments to purchase food close to expiry, to reduce the amount thrown out and wasted. The container stores produce and then constantly monitors temperature to adjust a prediction for the time the produce will expire.”

The Big Bang Senior Technology Award went to a group of 4 London students in Year 13 from King’s College London Maths School for their accessible chess design, entitled, ‘AutoMate – the chess board for everyone.’

The AutoMate design aims to create an accessible platform with integrated mechatronic systems, allowing users to play without touching the pieces, inputting moves through inclusive technologies including eye-gaze-tracking and voice commands.

The UK Young Engineer of the Year and UK Young Technology of the Year Awards are the top engineering and technology awards in The Big Bang Competition, a nationwide competition for young engineers, scientists and technologists.

The Big Bang Fair is UK’s largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people held at Birmingham’s NEC over 19 June to 21 June. Run by EngineeringUK, The Fair is supported by organisations across the education and STEM sector including Rolls-Royce, Jaguar Land Rover, and new supporters Accenture, Zoolab, JCB, Johnson & Johnson and easyJet.

Dr Hilary Leevers, EngineeringUK Chief Executive said: “Huge congratulations to all of our incredible engineering and technology award winners. I know you will all be great advocates for STEM. Well done!” 

To find out more and discover all the winners of The Big Bang Competition 2024 visit: www.thebigbang.org.uk/competition-winners