Engineering Because challenge a success at Nelson and Colne College

Engineers of the future gathered at Nelson and Colne College to put their skills to the test in the college’s annual Engineering Because challenge.

During the event, all students competed to design, manufacture and test prototype vehicles self-propelled using string and a weight, as the college’s Sports Hall was transformed into a workshop full of innovation and creativity.

Nelson and Colne College apprentice, Danny Leeming, 19, was part of the team who won the Most Innovative Design for creating a vehicle with a cone shaped mechanism to release the string that increased the acceleration of the vehicle the further it travelled.

“I’m in the first year of my four-year apprenticeship with Chubb and I’m working towards becoming a commissioning engineer. I think engineering is a good career for me as there is the challenge of each day being different and I like the practical hands-on side of the job.

Nelson and Colne College engineering technician and part-time tutor Michael Molloy, who led on organising the event, said: “Our Engineering Because event was another huge success and it was brilliant to see more than 100 young people and budding engineers of the future so enthused by Engineering and the task they were set to complete.

“Thank you to all of the schools who took part in this year’s Engineering Because and also to our judges, Rotarians Geoff Atkins and David Foulds, for giving up their time to support it again. They ensured an expert eye was cast over every design and that overall it was another fantastic celebration of Engineering.”

www.nelson.ac.uk