More than 1,000 students from across the UK gathered at London’s Barbican Centre for the grand finals of The National Careers Challenge – the UK’s largest enterprise and employability competition for schools.
Year 7 students at Mossbourne Community Academy won the top prize with their entry, ‘Loch Haven’, which impressed judges with its creative use of green technology.
Student team captain Kay Benjamin Richardson, from Mossbourne Community Academy, said: “My team and I were thrilled to represent Mossbourne at the finals – and win!”
To bring their eco-town to life, Kay’s teammate took on the role of mayor – complete with a top hat and cane – during their stage presentation at the finals on 6 July.
The brief, set by Air Products, challenged students to explore how gases can be used to reduce carbon emissions in towns and support sustainable living.
Mossbourne higher education and careers manager Abbie Crunkhorn said: “It is always incredible to see the creativity and problem-solving skills of the students kick in when presented with a challenge.”
“I think taking it beyond the curriculum and showing them that all these skills they’d maybe never thought of as scientific, that they’re really good at, are actually part of a lot of scientific careers and may be a reason to study STEM subjects in the future.”
The event highlighted the value of early engagement with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects, showcasing how young people can tackle real-world problems and contribute to the UK’s future workforce.
Air Products community and STEM ambassador Lynn Willacy said: “We firmly believe in the benefits of early engagement, enabling young students to discover the huge potential of STEM subjects.”
