Primary Engineer Award School Pupils and Engineers in London
School pupils, university students and engineers travelled to London this week for the highly prestigious Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Award Ceremony, a collaboration between Primary Engineer and The MacRobert Trust, with support from WEIR and Christopher Ward.
The event, which was hosted at the prestigious Drapers’ Hall in London, acts as the forerunner to the illustrious MacRobert Award, the leading prize for engineering innovation in the UK. Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal is designed to celebrate the achievements of the school pupils, students and young engineers who have all worked together to create innovative and world-changing prototypes based on a school pupils engineering idea.
The Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal, which is now in its fourth year, is part of the wider “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” annual STEM competition, ran by Primary Engineer. UK School pupils from the ages of 3-19 are tasked with interviewing an engineer, before being asked to identify a problem in the world around them and coming up with a creative, engineered solution to that problem. All entries are read and graded by professional engineers, with every single pupil who takes part receiving a named and graded certificate. The free competition then culminates in exciting regional public exhibitions and award ceremonies, where shortlisted designs are displayed, and the winners and highly commended are invited on stage to receive their awards.
Each year, Primary Engineer’s university and industry partners choose from thousands of shortlisted entries submitted by pupils across the UK, choosing one to prototype and take it from paper to reality in a journey of pure innovation. The ‘ProtoTeams’ who build the prototypes have to do so alongside the pupil who came up with the idea, and it is both ProtoTeam, pupil and school who are given the award at The Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal ceremony in November.
In total 9 ProtoTeams were recognised for their achievement with Bronze, Silver and Gold Medals which was decided by a judging panel comprised of senior figures from industry, education and government.
Dr Susan Scurlock MBE, Founder and Chief Executive of Primary Engineer, spoke at the award ceremony:
“It is a profound honour to host the 2025 Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal at Drapers Hall in London and celebrate the ingenuity of these prototypes which have gone on a journey over the last 12 months, going from paper to reality. Each one is unique, but they all demonstrate tangible real-world impact and the power of helping people, be that individuals or entire communities. We are immensely grateful to The MacRobert Trust, WEIR, and Christopher Ward for their essential support in championing this crucial spirit of innovation and design.”
The event saw school pupils, early years engineers and students come together to celebrate with senior professionals from industry, education and government. Professor Helen James OBE, member of the Primary Engineer Advisory Board, Paul Wright, Merchandising and Supply Chain Director at Christopher Ward and Elisabeth Scott, Trustee and The MacRobert Trust all took to the stage to say a few words and help congratulate the winners. Their expertise and insights set the tone for an unforgettable celebration of young engineering talent.
Gillian Currie, Chief Executive Officer at The MacRobert Trust said “The MacRobert Trust is proud to support the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal, which exemplifies the spirit of innovation and collaboration in engineering. Inspiring young people to engage with real-world engineering challenges is essential to nurture the next generation of creative and skilled innovators. Through our partnership with Primary Engineer, we are honoured to encourage curiosity, critical thinking and ambition amongst young people. Engineering is at the heart of the future and addressing opportunities at an early age is so important.”
Jon Stanton, Chief Executive Officer at Weir, said “Innovation is essential for solving today’s complex challenges — from climate change to digital transformation — and Primary Engineer is uniquely positioned to inspire the next generation of problem solvers. By engaging young people in real-world engineering projects, we unlock their creativity, build confidence, and connect classroom learning to industry and beyond. Their fresh thinking and unconstrained problem-solving bring energy and passion to innovation and creativity, helping shape inclusive, future-ready solutions. Involving children in co-creation and design not only develops critical STEM skills but also ensures that tomorrow’s engineers reflect the diversity and ambition of the world they’ll help build.”
Mike France, CEO and Co-Founder, Christopher Ward said “Engineering and innovation drive progress – and sit at the heart of Christopher Ward’s DNA. That’s why we’re so proud to support Primary Engineer’s MacRobert Medal, which celebrates the creativity and productivity of young people across the UK. The prototypes are a powerful reminder of what happens when imagination meets engineering – a spirit that has long defined the UK’s inventive tradition. By helping to bring some of these ideas to life, Primary Engineer is doing a fantastic job to inspire the next generation to stay curious, think differently, and use their talents to make the world a better place.”
This year also saw the Commendation Award return, with the “I CAN Swing” taking home the prize. It highlighted that the general public can be inspired by the thoughtfulness and innovation of young people’s ideas.
You can see the full Medallists below:
Bronze Medallists:
Heat Sensor, AVEVA
Focus Band, Thales Glasgow
Jump Charge, Thales Glasgow
Silver Medallists:
4 Bin Swopper, University of Southampton
Attaching Suitcase, Civil Aviation Authority
I CAN Swing, Thales Belfast
Hummingbird 3000, Thales Crawley
Gold Medallists:
Bench Bed, University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering
Rainbow Glasses, Thales Cheadle
Congratulations to Malachy and the Thales Belfast team for their I CAN Swing prototype winning the Public Vote.