TDI Challenge finalists announced

The competition enables talented young people to showcase their work and help them to understand the sophistication and dynamism of advanced manufacturing.

The competition, which has been running for over a decade, is organised by the Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) to inspire future engineers into a career in manufacturing. Two age categories exist within the competition, 14-16 and 17-19, with six finalist in each age group. New for 2017 is a group category which sees two teams competing in the 17-19 age group.

Laura Pickering, MTA education and development co-ordinator, said: “We have seen an extremely high standard of entries in this year’s competition and I am very much looking forward to the finals day when I get to see the students and their projects.”

She continued: “We hope the students taking part in the final find the TDI Challenge an inspiring day. To be chosen to participate in the final this year is a huge achievement in itself with the amount of entries we received this year and quality of work on display. With government funding being cut for Design and Technology subjects in schools, we felt that it was important to make a lasting contribution to the winning school.”

Prizes are up for grabs for individual and group projects, with the winner in each category receiving an individual prize (including iPads, GoPro cameras, Minirig speakers and drones) as well as a £1,000 voucher for the winning school in each category to spend on Design & Technology equipment for the classroom.

The TDI Challenge final will take place on 5th July 2017 at MTA members Yamakazi Mazak’s headquarters in Worcester. Students submit their GCSE, A-Level or BTEC Design and Technology course work projects to be judged by a panel of experts drawn from industry.

MTA www.mta.org.uk