Sussex charity Greenpower brings together 1,000+ aspiring engineers at international race event

Image credit: Spacesuit Media

The event is the annual showpiece of Greenpower Education Trust, a charity based here in West Sussex that works with schools across the UK and overseas. Its mission? To engage young people in STEM through a practical challenge to design, build and race their own electric vehicle.

Skills for the future local workforce

Over months of work, students take their car from first idea to the finish line. Along the way they build practical engineering skills, from electronics to CAD and data analysis, alongside the teamwork, communication and problem-solving that employers in every sector look for. With one in four UK job adverts relating to engineering, according to the Royal Academy of Engineering, hands-on experiences like these have a real part to play in closing the STEM skills gap.

Dr Nash Vracas, Co-Chair of Greenpower, said: “I’ve always believed that the best way to inspire young individuals into STEM is to give them an opportunity for hands-on experiences. When you build and race your own car, engineering stops being something you learn about in a classroom and becomes something you actually do.”

How to get involved

Greenpower is keen to reach even more young people on the grid next year, and local businesses can help make that happen. Supporting a school team is a practical way to give back to your community and strengthen your social value, with a real contribution to local skills and jobs. There are lots of different ways you can get involved:

· Sponsor a team at a local school or college

· Become a partner of the charity

· Support local schools through employee volunteering

To find out more, contact Greenpower at [email protected] or visit greenpower.co.uk.