Salford school girl, who designed glasses to help people with Dyslexia, praised by Sir Richard Branson
It is a story that proves a single moment of frustration can spark an innovative idea with real-world potential which keep reaching new heights.
In 2024, Millie, then a Year 5 pupil at Light Oaks Junior School in Greater Manchester, arrived at class only to realize she had forgotten her one-of-many colored-lens glasses, a vital tool for managing her dyslexia. That day, Millie began to wonder “What if the glasses could change color themselves?”.
This creative problem-solving became “Rainbow Glasses,” a concept Millie submitted to the free “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” competition, open to all UK pupils aged 3-19. Her solution featured glasses with interchangeable coloured lenses, allowing users to select the hue that best alleviated visual stress and improved reading comfort.
Our ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’ Leaders Award Competition is a UK-wide competition open to all pupils aged 3–19. Pupils are tasked with interviewing an engineer before being asked to identify a problem in the world around them and drawing and annotating a solution and adding a letter explaining why an engineer should choose to build it! All entries are read and graded by engineering professionals, with every single pupil who takes part receiving a named and graded certificate. They are graded based on the quality of the idea and the problem, large or small, that it is solving. Shortlisted entries are then sent to exclusive judging days where the invited judges, formed from leading industry and engineering professionals, select the designs to be celebrated at each of our 25 regional Award Ceremonies.
Each year Industry and University partners of Primary Engineer choose a pupil’s idea to turn from paper to a reality, working closely with the pupil and revealing the finished prototype the following year at the next regional awards ceremony.
The idea was so compassionate and clever that it was selected by Thales UK to be brought to life over the 2024/2025 academic year. The ProtoTeam based in Cheadle, initially comprising five engineers and later expanding to seven, collaborated to bring Millie’s concept to life. After evaluating various options, including electrochromic and thermochromic lenses, the team settled on an LED-based solution. This approach allowed the lenses to change colour to red, green, or blue, providing users with the flexibility to choose the most suitable tint for their reading needs. The team engaged in weekly meetings, collaborated with researchers from the University of Georgia, and delivered STEM lessons at Millie’s school to ensure the prototype aligned with her original concept. The project culminated in July 2025 with a grand unveiling in Greater Manchester regional award ceremony, then submitted to the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Award.
The Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal, which celebrated it’s fourth year in November 2025, 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 pupil’s engineering idea. The Thales ProtoTeam as well as Millie whose idea inspired the prototype were awarded a Gold Medal.
At the time, Sarah, Millie’s mum, said “Millie has loved every second of this experience and it has really motivated her. She has been really excited through the whole journey and she is so hopeful about the future. Her grandad was an Engineer and this is the sector she has always wanted to work in and her dreams have been made into a reality. Thank you so much for giving Millie this opportunity.”
The momentum has only grown in 2026. Millie started off the year with a TV interview on ITV Granada News and the BBC North West News.
The latest milestone? Her story reached Sir Richard Branson. As someone who has always been open about his own dyslexia, the Virgin Group founder sent Millie a personal note and video message praising her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit.
In his note, Sir Richard Branson said: “Dear Millie, it takes a lot of courage and imagination to turn your own challenges into something that can help others. You should be incredibly proud of yourself. Keep going and keep believing in your ideas.”
To top it off, Millie and her mum, Sarah, were invited for a weekend stay in London at Virgin Hotels London-Shoreditch with a Virgin Experience Days voucher ready for the May half-term!
It’s been a joy to watch Millie’s confidence grow alongside her success as her engineering journey continues to reach incredible heights. She’s proof that a great idea can take you anywhere and we are so proud!
Learn more about our “If you were an engineer, what would you do?” competition.