Registration now open for Apprentice Automation Challenge 2024!

Deadline 1 March 2024: don’t miss your chance to get involved in the Challenge’s tenth anniversary year.

Registration is now open for teams of apprentices to participate in this year’s Apprentice Automation Challenge: to register your team for free, please visit the event website or email [email protected] . Rules can also be downloaded from the?Challenge's Document Library .

Challenge tasks teams of up to six apprentices from companies around the world to design and manufacture a product, from concept to prototype, to automate an everyday device. Previous examples seen at the competition include a smart mirror with organiser functionality, a food handling device and an automated walking stick.

Starting in March, teams from around the world will develop their products throughout the coming months, with regular webinars and new mentoring sessions hosted by the IMechE provided to support their work as they develop and build their devices.

“The Challenge provides a fantastic opportunity for apprentice engineers to think creatively, learn new skills and showcase their abilities,” said Giles Hartill CEng FIMechE , IMechE President. “Teams regularly surprise us with how they have applied their knowledge to a real product and it’s great to see how organisations are supporting and developing their apprentice talent. Getting involved in our tenth anniversary competition is something that all apprentices should seriously consider.”

“Apprenticeships are a great route into a career in engineering, equipping people with the skills needed to be an asset to any business,” said Kostas Salonitis, chair of the Institution’s Manufacturing Industry Members Division. “This engineering challenge continues to support this process in a practical way that follows real-world principles and apprentices will see the benefits as they become more capable engineers embarking on their careers.”

Teams will bring their finished prototypes to a prestigious live finals event held in September, where a judging panel of senior judges from industry will assess their work in formal presentations and demonstrations and crown the next champions, who will walk away with a ￡2,000 prize award.

"The most satisfying part is seeing their prototypes come together for the Finals Day.” said Rob Armstrong , Head of Mechanical Engineering at Leonardo , whose team won in 2023. ”It is always a pleasure to see the apprentices develop as they progress through the challenge; learning to work as a team, improving their presentation and report writing skills and solving the problems they encounter along the way.”

Registration closes for teams on 1 March 2024, to register please visit the event website or email [email protected]