A record turnout of over 600 young engineers, teachers and companies enjoyed an action-packed day at the annual Scottish Celebration of Engineering event at the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Glasgow Science Centre on 12 June. It was organised by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry for the Scottish network of Young Engineers Clubs and included the Scottish Final of the Young Engineers for Britain competition. Event partners were the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, Lloyds Register and OPITO, the Oil and Gas Academy.

Over 60 Clubs from all over Scotland took part, from as far afield as Orkney in the north to Dumfries in the south. Travel logistics for several clubs required a two night stay in Glasgow and most clubs had to set off for Glasgow at the crack of dawn.

Clubs showcased their engineering activities and took part in an exciting series of 10-minute hands-on technology challenges set by 27 companies. The challenges tested a range of skills including electrical, electronic, mechanical and civil engineering, robotics and aeronautics. In addition, clubs had an opportunity for hands-on science experiments in the Institute of Physics Lab in a Lorry.

“It was an amazing experience for the children and the organisation was superb. To see the work of other schools and feel the buzz of enthusiasm was great for our 4 children. At lunch time on the day, one of them said ‘I have just enjoyed everything about the day - it's brilliant’”. Hillhead Primary School, Kirkintilloch.

Nine Showcase and Technology Challenge Awards were presented by Mamta Singhal, winner of the Women’s Engineering Society Prize at the 2007 Institution of Engineering and Technology Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards.

Paul Sommerville, Managing Director of Cradlesafe, presented a special award for Best Innovation to Zakari MacDonald of Mossneuk Primary School in East Kilbride for his innovative hospital trolley idea which has been patented. Paul has an inspirational story for all budding engineers – he came up with the idea of his product, a baby monitor, when he was a member of the Young Engineers Club at Duncanrig Secondary School. He has since gone on to form a company and develop a range of products which he is launching worldwide … and he is only 25!