Teams of students from Harrow College have taken part in the May Gurney Challenge to uncover transport solutions for the future.
Thirty students from the Level 1 electrical and plumbing group attended Harrow Skills Centre on 17 April to put their engineering and innovation skills into practice.
The May Gurney Challenge is an interactive event created to challenge perceptions within the construction industry and raise awareness of the opportunities available to apprentices, trainees and graduates. May Gurney is one of the biggest contractors in Harrow that offers young people an introduction into civil engineering.
The students were asked to get into small groups to research, design and present a form of eco-friendly transport that could be used by future generations, with prizes awarded to the most innovative ideas.
Learners Shabaz Hussan, Aaron Smith and Perry Webb, who wanted to design a jet-powered, solar- and radiation-panelled car, were awarded the prize for best overall team.
Shafiq Walji and Artus Vaitekuns, who had designed a triple deck motorway, were awarded the accolade for best concept.
Meanwhile, Ivan Alele, who conceived of the idea of magnetic levitation on motorways with hybrid cars, was presented with the best overall student award.
Mary-Ann Allison, skills administrator at Harrow College’s Skills Centre said that the tasks presented to students highlighted their creative thinking and showed that they were truly inventive.
“The May Gurney representatives who came and worked with the students were so enthusiastic,” said Allison. “The majority of our over 16 students are very shy and occasionally find it difficult to express themselves, but this challenge proved us wrong. It was great to see such innovative ideas coming from such determined students.”