Thales brings young engineer’s winning design to life to help tackle homelessness

Our national partner, Thales (in the UK) are supplying 150 solar-powered heated blankets to six charities across the Glasgow region to help tackle homelessness. The blankets were designed by a school student as part of an annual UK competition ran by Primary Engineer. The blanket design and Thales prototype were awarded silver at the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Award Ceremony in November 2024.

The finished products are based on the original prototype design and construction, which was carried out in Glasgow by a team of Thales graduates and apprentices.

Thales in the UK is proud to announce the supply and donation of 150 solar-powered heated blankets as part of their work as a national partner with Primary Engineer. The initial blanket design was created by a school student, Rebecca Young, as part of the Primary Engineer competition that asks students aged 3-19 from across the UK, “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” Rebecca’s idea for the innovative creation came from witnessing the growing homeless population across Glasgow. The cold winter nights inspired her to create the Solar Powered Heated Blanket to answer Primary Engineer’s call.

Thales is a long-standing partner of Primary Engineer, helping to promote the competition across the UK, which reached a record-breaking 75,876 entries in 2024. In addition to providing STEM workshops, volunteers, and support during grading days for design submissions, Thales produces prototypes of leading designs from the Primary Engineer competition, which are unveiled at Primary Engineer regional award ceremonies during the summer, then later presented at the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal in November.

In 2024, five designs were brought to life by teams of Thales graduates and apprentices from across the UK, including the award-winning Solar Powered Heated Blanket. To celebrate the winning prototype design, 150 of the blankets have been funded for donation by Thales to help support six homeless charities in the Glasgow region. The first 35 blankets have been donated to Homeless Project Scotland, where they will be used to support 31 temporary accommodation beds in Glasgow.

The blanket is designed to fold away into a backpack, making it easy to carry. It is powered by a small solar panel and battery pack, each about the size of a smartphone, ensuring minimal weight is added for the user. Careful consideration was taken into account by the prototype design team at Thales, who were guided by feedback from Rebecca through various stages of the prototype production process. The team wanted to ensure that the blanket has different levels of heat settings, and that the safety of the user was at the forefront.

“We are incredibly proud to have been able to work with Rebecca and Primary Engineer to bring her design to life resulting in the donation of 150 blankets to help those who need it most. These donations serve a greater purpose in supporting those in need and highlight the power of design to make a positive impact in our community.” Stephen McCann, Managing Director of Thales OME, Glasgow.

“It’s such a pleasure to witness the remarkable journey of an innovative idea brought to life. Initiated by Rebecca as part of the ‘If You Were an Engineer, What Would You Do?’ competition, this project has seen incredible collaboration in the hands of Thales Early Careers engineers that culminated in the handover of solar powered heated blankets to Colin from Homeless Project Scotland. Hearing about the individuals who will benefit from this initiative truly highlights the transformative power and beauty of engineering at its finest.” Susan Scurlock MBE, CEO, Primary Engineer.

To find out more about getting involved with Primary Engineer, click here.