Young Engineers
KMF in partnership with industry and education, continues to raise aspirations and enhance career development.
KMF has always worked closely with schools to try and promote the exciting opportunities available to young people if they choose to enter a career in engineering. KMF decided to take this a step further by launching the KMF Young Engineer of The Year (YEOTY) initiative.
Our Vision
Over many years YEOTY has reached more than 25,000 students, worked with over 25 high schools and, through KMF and local sponsors, invested over £650,000 in encouraging young people to take up a career engineering and STEM projects. Although the task changes annually, the aim remains the same: to capture the imagination of our young people and fire their enthusiasm towards careers in STEM-related subjects or apprenticeships.
Once the brief is announced, schools receive sponsorship from a designated organisation and teams spend time planning, building and testing their designs. Entries are judged by a panel of leading members of the business community. Teams are evaluated both on their entries, as well as team values and communication. The event ends with an awards ceremony, where the lucky winners are announced and receive their prizes. This event is hosted by TV's The Gadget Show presenter Jason Bradbury. It is an inspiring and memorable night for all involved.
Space Olympics — 2020
Design — Build — Launch
KMF are relaunching their 2016 Space Project, coming back in 2020 with The Space Olympics. Students will be challenged to launch balloons into near space carrying GoPro Cameras to complete scientific experiments of their choice. Schools will compete to achieve the best engineered capsule, photo in space and more. KMF will be working with space experts Sent into Space.
Robot Rivalry — 2019
Design — Build — Battle
For 2019, KMF launched a Robot Rivalry Challenge, working with Robot Experts Robochallenge (https://robochallenge.co.uk/) to task students with designing, building and battling real-life robots. After months of hard work, schools went head-to-head in a final robot battle at Newcastle-under-Lyme college, judged by ex-Robot Wars judges & crew.
The Greenpower Project — 2018
Design — Build — Race
Working with Greenpower Education Trust, KMF's 2018 Young Engineer of the Year competition, challenged students to design, build and race an electric kit car.331276
Key Dates:
- September 2017 -- The Greenpower Project is launched in schools and teams are selected
- November 2017 -- Build Day: Teams attend Staffordshire University to receive their car kits and expert advice and guidance about the competition ahead.
- December 2017 -- Each school reserve up to 10 hours of KMF Greenpower Ambassador Assistance
- March 2018 -- Test Day: Teams test their cars for the first time at Newcastle Town Football Club
- June 2018 -- Race Day: Teams race against the other local schools at Mallory Park, competing for awards such as Fastest Lap, Furthest Distance Travelled and Best Designed Car.
- July 2018 — Awards Ceremony at Kings Hall in Stoke.
The Lego Project — 2017
Design — Innovate — Compete
Students are challenged to unleash their creativity with the task of building, programming and testing, real-life robotics using Lego technology.
Key Dates:
- September 2016 — The Lego Project is launched in schools and teams are selected
- October 2016 — Schools are provided with their Lego kits, meet their sponsors and start to build their robots.
- January 2017 — Schools and sponsors attend a 'Rules of Robot Games' masterclass at Newcastle-under-Lyme College.
- March 2017 — Semi-finals held at Newcastle-under-Lyme College.
- June 2017 — Final tournament held at Staffordshire University.
This year's Lego Project is supported by First Lego League and Institution of Engineering and Technology.
The Space Project — 2016
Design — Build — Launch
Students were challenged to launch balloons into near space carrying GoPro Cameras to complete scientific experiments of their choice. Schools competed to achieve the best 'selfie' in space.
The 3D Print Project — 2015
Design — Print — Pitch
Students were provided with a MakerBot Z18 3D Printer and tasked with a brief to design and print a gadget. Students pitched their gadgets to a 'Dragon's Den'-style judging panel.
The Greenpower Project — 2014
Design — Build — Race
Students were tasked with building Greenpower Formula, F24 Electric Kit Cars. After the build, schools competed against each other on a race day track.
The Clock Project — 2013
Design — Make — Display
Students we're tasked with designing and packaging a mechanical clock. Students received a design brief and the mechanisms to carry out the project just as they would within industry.