Trend works with school to inspire the next generation of engineers
Data from a school’s Trend BMS has enabled students participating in The Engineering Development Trust’s Go4SET programme to identify the local energy costs of improving the school’s sports facilities. As a result, the work of six pupils at Tanbridge House School in Horsham, aided by two engineers from Trend Controls, has been entered into a national competition.
Working with the pupils were Tony Sharp, Trend’s technical project manager, and project engineer Ben Wilson, who completed his apprenticeship with Trend and is a former pupil of the school.
The pupils decided that rush hockey and ultimate Frisbee would add diversity to the range of sports already available and suggested that the sports hall would benefit from having natural ventilation and improved showering facilities.
Ben Wilson comments, ‘At first we thought sport would be quite tricky to address from an energy perspective. However, the pupils were really enthusiast and thought through the implications for their proposal in an incredibly innovative way. The findings confirmed that almost any activity within a building can have an impact on energy use.’
Rob Butler, science teacher at the school, says, ‘Go4SET piques the interest of pupils in science, engineering and technology at a key stage in their education .The UK needs to increase the number of people pursuing careers in these subjects, and support from companies like Trend is inspiring them to become involved. I look forward to working with Trend again next year.’
