Young engineers stage Commons exhibition

THREE students from Hinckley are celebrating after reaching the finals of The Big Bang Competition after impressing judges with their engineering project.

Hinckley Academy students Travis Poulton, Zoe Smallwood and Josie Waters were congratulated by MP David Tredinnick after they wowed the judges during the regional heats of the national competition.

Their winning antiarthritic drug which can be synthesised in a school laboratory was selected to be showcased at the Houses of Parliament during Tomorrow’s Engineers Week and exhibited to some of the UK’s leading STEM companies.

Commenting on the academy’s success, Mark Titterington, Chief Executive of EngineeringUK - which organises the competition, said: “This year’s entries to The Big Bang Competition highlight how talented the UK’s young scientists and engineers are. It’s easy to see why Hinckley Academy’s project has secured a place at the UK finals and we were incredibly excited to host their project at the Houses of Parliament.”

The three students will go on to join over 200 other project teams from across the country in the finals which take place during The Big Bang UK Young Scientists and Engineers Fair at the Birmingham NEC, March 2019.

MP David Tredinnick added: “I was delighted to welcome Hinckley Academy to the House of Commons.

“Their fantastic project showcases the talent that we have in Hinckley and Bosworth.

“Congratulations to Travis, Zoe and Josie and good luck for the finals in March - lets hope Hinckley’s winning streak continues.”

The MP also had the chance to meet the winner of this year’s Senior Engineering prize, Bethan Padbury, who also studied at Hinckley Academy and is now reading Physics at Loughborough University.