EES team gains Gold Crest Awards

Members of the Haileybury Engineering Education Scheme (EES) team recently all earned Gold Crest Awards for their project set by local company Motability, in which they had to make a prototype device.

The EES team was made up of Charlie Barnard (Alby), Oliver Cox (K), Barnabas Sleep (K), Amir Abdul Latiff (E), Neil Athey (teacher) and Dave Elvin (Motability representative). The brief set by Motability was simple: "Design a product that will hold a user’s walking aid securely within the car cabin". The team worked together over the first two months on the designs for the product, culminating in a three-day stay at the University of Hertfordshire, where a first concept model was produced. From this the designs were modified and improved, producing a range of further concepts over the final months of the project.

A final, working prototype, including a revolutionary clip designed from scratch by the team, and a detailed written report was submitted to the EES scheme assessors at the beginning of April. This was followed up by a multimedia presentation on 1 May as part of the scheme’s celebration day and was received extremely well by all the judges. The team presented the project formally to the Motability board on 7 May, and was greatly encouraged by the response. Motability is currently deciding whether to take the project further.

This is only the second time that Haileybury pupils have been awarded Crest awards. The EES in England is intended to help young people achieve their full potential, particularly through careers in engineering, science and technology.