Young engineers from Redland Green School triumph in national engineering challenge final

This year’s challenge was in association with UKRI’s Faraday Battery Challenge. The teams were tasked to design a prototype toy for students aged 2-5 years old which would allow children to play together in one room.

The teams were judged on their planning, development of product, use of budget, product engineering, presentation and teamwork.

The winning team designed a prototype ‘Recycle Rush’ which is a shape matching game that teaches children how to recycle.

A total of 311 events took place across the UK to host the 2024-2025 IET Faraday^® Challenge Days. Up to six teams of local school students competed at each event to find the best solution to the engineering-related challenge.

The final was judged by David Lakin, Head of Education, Events and Learning Services at The Institution of Engineering and Technology, Dr Ben Walsh, of UK Research and Innovation, Pritti Shoker, Battery Manufacturing Skills Pathway Project Manager at University College Birmingham and Mairi Kerin, Operations Manager at the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology.

The events aim to encourage more young people to study and consider exciting and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by using creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills.

Natalie Moat, IET Faraday^® Education Manager, said: “Students who took part in the IET Faraday^® Challenge Days this year have experienced working as an engineer through hands-on and practical engagement with real-life challenges relating to UKRI’s Faraday Battery Challenge.

"The quality of the students’ work throughout has been fantastic and it was an extremely close final – I’d like to congratulate Redland Green School on winning!

“There is huge demand for new engineers and technicians and we’re confident that this challenge has helped to change young people’s perceptions of engineers and inspire the next generation. It’s given students an insight into the life of a real engineer, the variety a career in engineering can offer and just how exciting and creative engineering really is.”

Dr Ben Walsh from UKRI’s Faraday Battery Challenge said: “It’s been incredibly inspiring to see the creativity, teamwork and engineering skills demonstrated by these young minds. The IET Faraday^® Challenge not only highlights the talent we have across the UK, but also shows how early engagement with STEM can ignite a lifelong passion.

"Congratulations to the winning team from Redland Green School– their innovative approach and enthusiasm for problem-solving truly impressed us. At UKRI, we’re proud to support initiatives like this that help shape the engineers and innovators of tomorrow.”

Pritti Shoker from University College Birmingham said: "It was a real honour for University College Birmingham to host this year's challenge final. I felt privileged to have been asked to judge, but it was no easy task!

“The participants demonstrated a clear understanding of the brief and presented some surprising and clever solutions. Their enjoyment of the challenge was obvious to everyone there and the innovative thinking and collaborative working on show bodes well for the future of STEM subjects. I'd like to wish Redland Green School many congratulations!"

The IET Faraday^® Challenge Days are part of a wider Education programme, made up of a whole host of teaching resources and activities to inspire and attract the engineers of tomorrow. 

For more information on the IET and its initiatives to promote STEM subjects and careers in the classroom, visit the IET’s dedicated Education website.

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Media enquiries to:

Rebecca Gillick
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E: rgillick@theiet.org