National Competition for 11 – 14 year old students
An exciting competition has been launched to encourage children across the UK to submit their designs for a new product, gadget, gizmo or toy and win the opportunity to turn it into a real-life prototype.
The “We Made It!” competition aims to show 11 – 14 year olds the range of exciting opportunities that a career in engineering can offer and help them understand that manufacturing is about design and creativity as well as the hands-on making of products.
MPs up and down the country will work with businesses in their area to judge entries received in their constituencies, choosing a young person to represent them. The best entries nationwide will then be invited to one of seven UK “Fab Labs”, digital fabrication laboratories, where they will use the very latest high-tech methods to bring their ideas to life with the help of the Labs’ experts. The final products will then be officially launched at an exclusive awards reception at the Houses of Parliament in December.
It is the second year the competition has been held. Last year saw winners Adam Kassell and Joseph Kruczkowski beat over 360 other entries to create their winning designs at the UK’s first Fab Lab in Manchester.
Eddie Kirkby, Charity and Operations Support Manager at The Manufacturing Institute, which owns and runs Fab Lab Manchester, said:
“Last year’s competition was a huge success and saw hundreds of really inventive ideas submitted from right across the country. This year, the competition is set to be even bigger and better, with seven Fab Labs on board – from Northern Ireland right down to Cornwall.
“There is a real need to get young people excited about working in engineering and manufacturing and help them understand what the industry can offer them as a career. That’s why we’re so pleased to be involved in “We Made It!” for a second year running.”
To find out more about how to get involved with the competition just visit www.wemadeituk.co.uk
