Careers fast-track for young scientists

Defence, security and aerospace business, BAE Systems, is not only on the judging panel, but also looking for standout entrants for its apprenticeship and work-experience schemes.

BAE Systems mechanical engineering manager Ian Hoare said the company was “really proud” to be supporting the Bright Spark Awards.

Bright Sparks - BAE Systems from Inspire Schools on Vimeo.

He added: “It’s a really great opportunity for us to see young, innovative people’s work in terms of science, maths, engineering and technology. We see Bright Spark as a great opportunity to meet new people and potentially have them join us on our apprenticeship schemes or through some of the summer placements or graduate schemes we do.”

The Bright Spark Awards encourage teams of Primary or Secondary school students to collaborate using cross-curricular skills in subjects including science, technology, engineering and maths. Entrants can submit schoolwork, science club projects or even science-based projects done for fun at home.

The competition categories of invention, investigation, and innovation allow for a wide range of projects to be submitted. Previous entries have included a first-aid drone, a maths app, a bath bomb and a study on the impact of biodiversity on wellbeing.

The best contenders will be visited in school to be filmed talking about their project and later battle it out at a Dragons’ Den-style final, where they will present their work and answer questions from the judges. There will be several prize winners and the overall champions will share £500 between them.

The Bright Spark Awards are organised by the KM Charity Team and encourage entries from teams, although individual students can submit their own projects. Multiple projects can be entered and will be judged separately.

To enter, complete a simple online form giving details of the project by the deadline of 31 May. Find out more at the Bright Sparks Award website

Contact Details

Hannah Hawksworth
Telephone: 08442 640291
Email: hhawksworth@thekmgroup.co.uk