Tameside College hosts its biggest ever ‘Greenpower Challenge’ event to inspire young engineers.

The Greenpower Challenge, which is hosted each year by the college, sees pupils from local schools build, test and then race electric kit cars. The event is designed to allow them to experience careers in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths).

With the engineering and technology sectors driving over a fifth of the UK’s economy, STEM learning has become a vital part of pupils’ education.

Pupils spent two days in the college’s automotive department constructing the cars, with the help of Tameside College staff, culminating in a track day at Tameside Cycle Track.

Audenshaw School, Denton Community College, Droylsden Academy, Mossley Hollins High School, St Thomas More School and West Hill School all took part in the one-of-a-kind event.

Denton Community College were the winners of this year’s challenge, completing the highest number of laps around the circuit throughout the day, followed by Audenshaw School.

The event has been growing year on year, expanding from just two schools to the current six and it shows no sign of stopping.

David Scanlan, head of marketing, admissions and school liaison at Tameside College, is hopeful that even more pupils can benefit from the project in the future: “The Greenpower Challenge has been a huge benefit to pupils in the local area and to the college. It gives them the opportunity to explore STEM careers in an exciting way and open their eyes to college life. The fact that it has grown so rapidly shows its success and every year the pupils involved have a fantastic experience. Well done to Denton Community College on their victory.”

To find out more about courses at Tameside College, visit www.tameside.ac.uk or call 0161 908 6600.