The Longitude Explorer Prize
Longitude Explorer is a youth focused challenge for secondary school pupils (and constituted youth groups) aged 11-16, which aims to provide a practical education opportunity linking young people to the history of the Longitude while supporting them to develop STEM skills for the 21st century.
Young people will be provided with a range of satellite navigation and observational data, toolkits and resources, as well as Raspberry Pi kits and will be challenged to use this information to address a social issue that affects their lives, their communities or the world. These new solutions could come in the form of apps, products, mapping or social activities; in fact anything their imaginations can stretch to. A great challenge.
ICE CityZen Competitions
ICE CityZen offers two exciting competitions for young people: the ICE CityZen Award (16-18 years) and the ICE CityZen Pollution Control Challenge (14-16 years). Through a unique combination of digital gaming and creative project work, students tackle real-world civil engineering challenges.
The competition consists of a 4-round digital game and a creative project where students pitch ideas for improving their local environment using civil engineering solutions.The competition has received multiple accolades, including the 2024 Memcom Excellence Awards for Best Education Initiative and the 2024 Bett Awards for Secondary Free Digital Content. Winners can receive up to £2,000 in cash prizes (split between students and school), plus exclusive opportunities like a VIP three-course meal with the ICE president. The competition helps students develop crucial skills in teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving while providing insights into STEM careers. Special prizes are also available from competition partners including the JBA Trust (£500 prize) and Loud Speaker (free workshop).
Teams must be registered by a teacher or school representative, and students must be attending full-time education in a UK school or college. The competition provides comprehensive support materials including teacher guides, student guides, and classroom resources to help participants succeed.
Your Life Formula 100
Formula 100 is a nationwide competition to discover some of the UK’s most creative young minds – to speculate on the inventions which would make your dream job better. Winners will be selected from all entrants at the end of January and top 100 entrants will become part of the Formula 100 Club – a group of inspiring individuals who will attend a prize-giving reception at Downing Street. The reception will announce the top prize-winners out of the 100 finalists. The Formula 100 club will connect its members with key individuals in industry who can help them on their way to a fulfilling career.
Formula Student
Formula Student (FS) is Europe’s most established educational motorsport competition, run by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Backed by industry and high profile engineers such as our Patron Ross Brawn OBE, the competition aims to inspire and develop enterprising and innovative young engineers. Universities from across the globe are challenged to design and build a single-seat racing car in order to compete in static and dynamic events, which demonstrate their understanding and test the performance of the vehicle. Find out what is involved in the challenge
EngineeringUK The Big Bang Competition
The Big Bang Competition recognises and rewards young people’s achievements in all areas of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), whilst providing them with the opportunity to build their skills and confidence in project-based work. The Competition is open to all UK residents in full-time education or training (year group 7-13 and Scottish/NI equivalent), and students can enter online and via regional heats.
The UK Finals take place at The Big Bang Fair in March each year. Finalists compete for over £20,000 worth of amazing prizes, including top and runner-up prizes in the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories for science and engineering, as well as the coveted titles of GSK UK Young Engineer of the Year and GSK UK Young Scientist of the Year. Finalists also have the chance to win exclusive special sponsor awards and trips abroad.
CREST Awards
Science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) enrichment activities to inspire and engage young people aged 5-19 years. CREST is a UK award scheme recognising success,building skills and demonstrating personal achievement in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) project work. UCAS endorse CREST Awards for inclusion in students’ personal statements – they’re well regarded, high-quality and a tangible recognition of success. Last year alone, over 30,000 CREST Awards were undertaken – giving 11-19yr olds opportunities to explore real-world projects in an exciting way.
James Dyson Award
The James Dyson Award is an international design award that celebrates, encourages and inspires the next generation of design engineers. The Award is open to current and recent design engineering students. It’s run by the James Dyson Foundation, James Dyson’s charitable trust, as part of its mission to get young people excited about design engineering.
Bloodhound
Are you currently at school in the UK and want to be involved with Bloodhound SSC? Using Delcam’s ArtCAM software you can enter your own design for Bloodhound plaques that will be awarded to schools around the country.
The Cisco BLOODHOUND SSC Global Video Competition is designed to offer an opportunity for young people to demonstrate their skills in Creative and Digital Media and to share their skills and understanding of the BLOODHOUND SSC Project. The competition hopes to build a bank of short, informative films that can be shared with the rest of the BLOODHOUND SSC Education Community and gives students an opportunity to research, direct, film, present and develop pre and post production skills using the best technology and software available to schools and Colleges.
First Lego Legue
FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) is a global science and technology competition with over 250,000 young people taking part each year. The IET is the operational partner for the FLL®competition in the UK and Ireland.
F1 in Schools
Competing in F1 in Schools gives you a unique opportunity to develop key skills such as; communication, presenting and team work which will form the foundation of your future in any career path you choose to follow. Working in teams of between 3-6 students, you will follow the same processes real Formula One teams follow from your initial business plan through to your car design. You will be using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, data analysis using CFD and drag calculation software, Computerised Numerical Control (CNC) machinery to manufacture your car, and wind and smoke tunnels for testing. Finally you will race your car on our 20m F1 in Schools race track to see who has designed and manufactured the fastest car.
4X4 in Schools
The Land Rover 4×4 in Schools Technology Challenge is a challenge aimed at key stage 3, 4 and 5 students in school / young people aged 11 – 19 years old in any out of school initiative (i.e. STEM Clubs, Scouts, Cadets, Guides, Youth Clubs, etc…). The challenge involves 4 to 6 team members working together to design and build a radio controlled 4-wheel-drive (4×4) vehicle, to set specifications, that can successfully negotiate a specially designed test track that emulates real life and what a full scale 4×4 vehicle can do. The challenge is an excellent opportunity for young people to work in teams and gain an awareness and understanding of project management using key skills.
COINS Grand Challenge
A new student competition (which is free to enter) is trying to improve the construction industry and built environment.
The COINS Grand Challenge is organised by global construction software company, COINS, who develop technology for the construction industry.
Find out more at www.coins-grandchallenge.com