UK competitions look for best in British manufacturing

The Make it in Great Britain Challenge is open to inventors, manufacturers, engineers, designers, businesses of all sizes, young people and the general public. It forms part of the Make it in Great Britain campaign, which aims to change the image of modern manufacturing. The 30 under 30 challenge invites nominations from all areas of manufacturing – aged 30 or under – who will be judged by a panel of industry experts, who will be looking for truly exceptional young employees. For the Make it in Great Britain Challenge, judges are seeking entries across five categories that represent the breadth and depth of the manufacturing industry, and highlight the innovation and talent in Britain today. The winning entries from each category will showcase their creations on a weekly basis at the Make it in Great Britain exhibition at the Science Museum in London. This will coincide with the Olympic and Paralympic Games and visitors to the six week exhibition will be invited to vote on their favourite entry. The winners from each weekly vote will feature together in the final week of the exhibit. Categories include: Make it…Stronger; Make it…Smarter; Make it…Sustainable; Make it…Life changing; and Make it…Breakthrough (for 16-21 year old entrants only). Make it…Breakthrough has been specifically designed for young people and entries can conform to any of the other four categories. Ahead of the exhibition opening in July, members of the public will have a chance to vote on which of the finalists in this category they believe is the most significant innovation, with the winner securing a place in the Science Museum for the entire duration of the exhibit. "This Challenge creates the perfect platform to celebrate the most innovative and creative manufacturing minds out there today, while showcasing their skills to potential investors, employers and peers who could help kick-start their ideas into real commercial ventures," said Prisk. According to Prisk, the '30 Under 30' challenge aims to challenge outdated opinions and transform the image of modern manufacturing. Once selected, the winners will play an important role in promoting manufacturing careers to the next generation, highlighting the diversity of jobs in the sector which include design, sales, marketing and business management. The organisers hope the winners will encourage more young people to see the opportunities the industry has to offer. "Current perceptions of British manufacturing are out of date," Prisk said. "Modern design, engineering and manufacturing offer varied and rewarding jobs for young people, yet many people don't realise this. We want 30 young people working in industry to explain to their generation just what they're missing." Full details on the both challenges are available on the Make it in Great Britain Challenge website.