Building bridges with teenagers

Pupils from schools in Sussex and Suffolk competed in the latest rounds of the May Gurney Challenge, which is organised by our 'Starting Out' team to raise awareness of careers in engineering and construction.

Equipped with paper, sticky tape and nuts and bolts the teams were challenged with researching, designing and building a bridge. A panel of 'experts' was on hand to judge the entries and offer advice and encouragement.

Seven schools from East and West Sussex entered the Challenge at the University of Brighton's Moulescoomb Campus.

The winning team, from Ringmer Community College, was presented with a cheque for £500 towards school equipment and gift vouchers for individual members.

The winning team, from Ringmer Community College, was presented with a cheque for £500

And 60 teenagers from three schools in the Lowestoft area competed against each other on 21 February, with the team from Benjamin Britten High School, emerging victorious and receiving the £500 cheque.

Cheryl Willis, Enterprise Advisor at Kirkley High School, said: "This has been of real benefit to the students, not only to instill healthy competition and open their eyes to the opportunities available in construction and engineering, but also to foster a sense of community between them."

Liz Sugden, Starting Out Officer at May Gurney, said: "We always want to attract talented people into the industry and the May Gurney Challenge is a great way of giving young people a hands on and enjoyable experience of the kind of skills used every day by engineers, designers and construction workers."

The May Gurney Challenge gives young people hands on experience of the skills used every day by engineers, designers and construction workers