The SIEMENS Make It Enterprising Challenge 15 December 2011

Cheshire teenagers found out first-hand what it is like to work in the high-tech world of modern manufacturing when they competed in the Siemens Make it Enterprising Challenge in Congleton on Thursday 15 December.

The 13 and 14 year-old boys and girls from twelve local schools established their own mini-manufacturing businesses and designed, costed, built and marketed solutions based on existing Siemens products - for one of a choice of customers including an airport, theme park and hospital.

This free event was a collaboration between The Manufacturing Institute and leading global engineering company Siemens whose facility at Congleton produces Drive technologies.

It was part of a series of themed challenges which The Manufacturing Institute is supporting through their ‘Make It’ campaign, which aims to attract the brightest and best new talent into manufacturing by promoting the sector as an exciting and rewarding career option for young people.

On the day, teams completed a series of tasks, each taking on job roles from managing director to operations managers through to finance, sales and marketing managers.

They developed a sales and marketing strategy and then pitched their fully costed ideas in a Dragons’ Den-style presentation to Siemens managers, who judged the winning team, runner-up team and also give special awards to outstanding individuals.

St Nicholas Catholic High School impressed the Dragons so much with their Evolution Theme Park design which included roller-coasters powered by SIEMENS drive technology and eco-friendly dodgem rides, that they were awarded the coveted winners trophy on the day. The judges praised the team’s commitment to health and safety and impressive marketing campaign which included their catchy jingle, performed during the pitches.

Meanwhile, the team from Brine Leas High School wowed the judges with the development of their TDC Hospital which would move patients around the hospital on a SIEMENS powered conveyor belt and included a commitment to give an impressive 50% of their profits to charity.

Nicola Crowther, Make It Campaign Manager, said:

“The Make It campaign aims to showcase that manufacturing is a really exciting, challenging and creative career option for young people. Global companies need great talent joining their business if they are to continue to be successful and we’ve found this in droves today with some fantastic leadership and teamwork displayed by the pupils involved. I’m sure we’ve inspired some young manufacturing and engineering stars of the future!”

Finbarr Dowling, Siemens Congletons Managing Director, commented:

“This is the second Make It event that Siemens Congleton have hosted this year, and we are delighted to do so. In fact such was the demand from schools in the Cheshire and Staffordshire areas for an event that we were obligated to have a second one.

“Its essential that children are given a close up opportunity to see the virtues of a career in manufacturing and engineering. Our experience has shown us that once the children receive that exposure through the Make It event they are absolutely more inclined to consider such a career.

“Today we have a shortage of key skills in certain parts of our manufacturing industries. This shortage of skills will only get more acute in the years to come and ultimately pose a serious threat to the UK economy. The Make It campaign is only the beginning of the process with respect to closing that skills gap, but it is an essential one. Thats why we are proud to be associated with the event with our partners The Manufacturing Institute.”

Both schools will now go through to Make It’s Grand Regional Final to be held in summer 2012.

click here to see the photos from the event

click here to watch a video of the event