Winners of Air Link Rail Challenge at Birmingham Airport revealed

Launched in November 2023, with immersive experiences that included professional interactions, an on-site visit earlier this year and making a final student pitch last month, the winners for the Air Link Rail Challenge at Birmingham Airport were finally announced from WMG Academy for Young Engineers Solihull.

Two teams submitted their presentations to the judging panel, led by Steve Walton - head of Terminal Infrastructure, who was accompanied on the panel by John Gregory- engineering manager, Infrastructure; Andy Holding - corporate responsibility manager; Luke Phipps – electrical manager, Stuart Twomlow – terminal operations lead and Jon Davies – Energy & Carbon manager.

The judging criteria was meticulous, incorporating nine elements including: the customer journey, sustainability, mechanical and electrical engineering aspects, commercialism and budget control.

Students presented innovative solutions such as rainwater electricity generation from hydroelectric guttering, carbon capture paint and Pavegen kinetic flooring. It was a challenge for the judging panel to decide first place.

However, there could only be one winner and with 319 points of separation, Team One prevailed. The prize was £50 gift cards, a week’s work experience and a tour and exploration at Birmingham Airport.

The runners up were awarded £20 gift cards to reflect their hard work and tenacity. Both teams were taken aback by the generosity of Birmingham Airport and the winners can’t wait to return for their work experience in the new academic year, developing their employability skills further.

Richard Hardwick, teacher of Engineering stated: “I was very proud of how the students presented themselves and their projects in light of the difficulties and changes undertaken during the project. It was phenomenal to have the link with Birmingham Airport so students could showcase their skills to a real world engineering problem and be challenged by industry professionals.”

Steve Walton commented: “The young engineering students from WMG Academy were tested in delivering real world solutions in a live engineering environment. The quality of the submissions from both teams was first class and the level of effort was a credit to both the students and the school. The project has exceeded the expectations of the airport and I offer a huge congratulations to both teams for what they produced. I will be following the careers of all involved closely. Our industry is in good hands, and I would like to wish all involved the very best for the future.”

The challenge was an immense success and gave the opportunity for future engineers to share fresh ideas and gain exposure to the world of work. WMG Academy for Young Engineers Solihull would like to thank Steve Walton for spearheading this opportunity for the academy and embarking on a brand-new partnership.