Scottish STEM students in Singapore ‘F1’ challenge supported by Edinburgh recruiting firm
Team AcceleRace, from Linlithgow Academy in West Lothian, is one step closer to competing in the world finals of the ‘F1 in Schools Challenge’ in Singapore this September, thanks to new sponsorship from an Edinburgh-based recruitment company.
The five S3 pupils on Team AcceleRace represented Scotland at the UK national finals of the competition at Silverstone in March this year and there they qualified to compete at the world finals.
F1 in Schools is the only global, multi-disciplinary challenge in which students aged 9-19 use CAD/CAM software to design, manufacture, test and race miniature, compressed air powered cars. The challenge aims to inspire students to use IT to learn about physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacturing, leadership and teamwork, graphics and financial strategy and to apply these in a practical and competitive way.
During the national finals, Team AcceleRace fielded the fastest car in the UK, an achievement that puts them in a great position for success in Singapore.
Through sponsoring the team, independent IT recruitment agency Cathcart Associates has shown its support for the competition and the team, and helped them on their way to raising the £10,000 necessary to travel to Singapore to represent the UK.
Cathcart Associates is keen to help raise awareness of the importance of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) subjects in schools and of closing the ongoing digital skills gap that is affecting the recruitment of skilled IT workers in Scotland, the UK and beyond.
Gordon Kaye, co-founder and director of Cathcart Associates, said: “As a racing aficionado, we jumped at the chance to support this talented team. This international STEM competition for secondary school pupils offers teams an exciting and interactive way of getting involved in STEM subjects.
“As professionals in the IT industry, we understand the need to encourage young people, not least girls, into the industry with a view to building their careers in tech.”
“Cathcart has witnessed first hand the exponential growth of the tech industry in recent years and we are determined to be part of the solution to closing the digital skills gap facing Scotland and the wider world.”
Team AcceleRace consists of five pupils from S3 at Linlithgow Academy: Louise Paterson, Isla Petrie, Louise Murray, Molly Ganner, and Aoife Sutton. The team is keen to prove that girls can achieve success in STEM subjects and to encourage other female students to consider careers in technology and engineering.
The competition has the support of the F1 community and includes over 40 countries worldwide, making it the largest school-based STEM programme globally.
