Celebrating Young Engineers – and the Power of Listening

Earlier tonight, I had the great pleasure of attending one of the most uplifting events in Oxfordshire’s calendar – the High Sheriff Young Engineer Awards, now in their thirteenth year.

Held at Abingdon and Witney College, and made possible through the generous sponsorship of Lucy Group, The Engineering Trust, and the College itself, the awards recognise and celebrate outstanding creativity, skill and innovation among students aged 12 to 18 from schools across Oxfordshire.

I had the honour of joining the judging panel this year, alongside industry leaders and professionals with deep expertise and a clear passion for nurturing the next generation. The standard of work was simply astonishing – full of heart, technical brilliance and thoughtful intent. It was clear that these young engineers weren’t just completing school projects – they were solving problems, telling stories through design, and imagining a better future.

The evening reflects everything my Shrieval year stands for. My theme – “Hearing the Young Unheard” – is about making space for the voices, talents and insights of young people across the county. And last night, those voices spoke loud and clear. These students have shown us not only what they can do, but who they are – determined, creative, compassionate, and deeply engaged.

I’d like to extend particular thanks to Richard Dick, Executive Chairman of Lucy Group, who founded these awards and continues to champion them with such heart. Thanks also to The Engineering Trust, whose sponsorship and leadership are invaluable, and to Abingdon and Witney College for their excellent hosting and ongoing support.

Now to the awards themselves – and what a roll call of excellence it was.

Year 8 & 9 Award

Winner: Isobel Lane – Burford School
A beautifully crafted and imaginative mood lamp, combining hand-sketching, CAD design, electronics, woodwork and laser-cut acrylic – a project that blended art and engineering to brilliant effect.

2nd Place: Edward Turner – North Oxfordshire Academy
A fully functioning robotic grabber built from VEX kits – a showcase of mechanical ingenuity, coding and real-world problem-solving.

Joint 3rd Place:
– Harry Lloyd – Faringdon Community College (Aluminium and walnut bottle opener)
– Ben Gwatkin – Lord Williams’s School (Ball-bearing handheld maze with multiple materials and techniques)

Year 10 & 11 Award

Winner: Ethan Carter – Burford School
A stunning Scandinavian-style coffee table, featuring a cast concrete top, curved sliding timber doors, integrated lighting and exceptional woodworking – both functional and stylish.

2nd Place: Sophie Turner – Burford School
An inventive mobile phone photography rig, thoughtfully engineered for stability and user-friendliness with strong CAD and manufacturing skills.

3rd Place: Samrah Shah – Didcot Girls’ School
A sensor-guided, autonomous robot to aid people with physical disabilities – technically complex, compassionate, and inspired by her experience at the Rosalind Franklin Institute.

Year 12 & 13 Award

Winner: Rachel Kennedy – St. Birinus School
This year’s overall High Sheriff Award also went to Rachel for her outstanding waterproof prosthetic hand, designed for upper-limb amputees. Integrating Arduino microcontrollers, servo motors and sustainable 3D printing, it was a project full of empathy, technical flair and purpose. Rachel’s blend of biology, design, and innovation was truly inspiring.

2nd Place: Alexander Cross – Abingdon & Witney College
A functional mechanical crane, designed and constructed from 3D printed and fabricated parts with working load-bearing capacity – a showcase of engineering precision.

Joint 3rd Place:
– Wojciech Pietraszek – The Cooper School (Multi-material garden carrier tool with drive mechanism)
– Lucas Dixey – St. Birinus School (Wearable assistive device for those with tunnel vision)

Team Award

Winners: Didcot Girls’ School – Mary Ngufor, Kamdi Ogbuabo, Henri Elderfield, Katie Blowers
A highly engaging, cleverly designed marble run aimed at primary school children. The structure was imaginative, interactive, and hugely popular at their school’s Open Evening – a brilliant example of teamwork, audience awareness and hands-on design.

To every student who took part – your work has inspired us. Your ideas have reminded us what young people can achieve when given the time, tools and encouragement to thrive.

To the schools, teachers, mentors, and families – thank you for the support you give behind the scenes. And to my fellow judges – it was a real privilege to work alongside you.

These young engineers represent the future not only of STEM in Oxfordshire, but of problem-solving, creative thinking and practical hope. Let’s keep listening – and let’s keep backing them all the way.