FABLAB WARRIGNTON WIN INNOVATION AWARD!

Judges were unanimous in their decision to present this year’s Innovation Award, sponsored by UTC Warrington, to FabLab Warrington.

Based at Beamont Collegiate Academy, the only STEM assured school in the country, FabLab is the only school-based facility open to businesses, education and the public.

Filled with cutting edge equipment, it has been instrumental in allowing students to follow an exciting range of career pathways while helping others.

The lab has recently been involved in the production of a prosthetic hand for a schoolboy, while the free monthly Coder Dojo is one of the most successful in Europe.

The school also works closely with other children across the north west, teaching everything from drone pilot lessons, robot wars, virtual reality to how to build bug houses and fidget spinners.

Chris Hillidge, pictured above, director of STEM, said: “Our town is surrounded by hi-tech industry and we felt we weren’t moving enough of our children into such jobs, we wanted to inspire them to take an interest in STEM and potential careers.”

And the work of the lab has received worldwide recognition.

In October visitors from 17 different countries were welcomed from as far as Australia and Japan to try out some of the opportunities on offer for themselves