F. Ball and Co. Ltd. are once again partnering with Westwood College, in Leek; and sponsoring a team of would-be engineers to take part in the 2018 KMF Young Engineer of the Year initiative. The project aims to get young people enthusiastic about engineering and involves colleges across Staffordshire competing in a different challenge each year. This year, students have been tasked with making an electric kit car.
The competition involves over 17,000 students from 25 high schools in the region. As in the past two years, F. Ball are sponsoring the project costs for Westwood College.
At the recent launch of the 2018 Young Engineer of the Year competition, Westwood College design and technology department were presented with a brand new laser-cutting machine. The equipment serves as a legacy for their participation in the 2016 Young Engineer of the Year challenge. F. Ball donated £2,000 towards the purchase of the equipment as well as sponsoring the project costs.
Brent Rushton of Westwood College Design and Technology Department, said: “We are delighted to have been able to purchase this high-tech laser cutting machine with help from F. Ball. It will be a fantastic addition to our design and technology facilities and an asset for students now and in the future.”
Mark Hughes, Managing Director of F. Ball and Co. Ltd., who presented Westwood College with the new piece of equipment, said: “It’s a privilege to be able to support Westwood College in the Young Engineer of the Year initiative. Developing links with local schools and colleges and inspiring young people to be the engineers of the future is something we’re passionate about.”
In past years, young engineers have been challenged to build a robot using Lego and to ‘take the best selfie in space’. For the latter test, students at Westwood College used a balloon to launch a camera to the dizzying heights of space before recovering it using GPS technology.
