Back-to-Back Wins For UK in International Youth Rocketry Championship

The United Kingdom has proudly claimed the International Youth Rocketry Championship title for the second consecutive year. The prestigious event saw the talented Ampleforth College Rocket Club from Yorkshire emerging victorious against formidable teams from France, Japan, and the USA at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Triumph at Farnborough International Airshow

The exhilarating competition featured student teams designing, building, and launching model rockets with the delicate task of safely transporting a raw egg as their payload. The UK’s entry, facilitated by ADS, the trade association for the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors, showcased exceptional ingenuity and skill.

Supported by industry giants Airbus and Lockheed Martin, the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge is part of a broader effort to bridge significant skills gaps in STEM fields. This initiative is vital as the aerospace and defence sectors consistently report over 10,000 vacancies.

Encouraging Future STEM Professionals

The Farnborough International Airshow’s “Pioneers of Tomorrow” day provided the perfect backdrop for this competition, dedicated to inspiring the next generation of aerospace leaders. Kevin Craven, CEO of ADS, highlighted the importance of such initiatives:

“Congratulations to Ampleforth College Rocket Club on their amazing victory, the second year in a row as international champions for the UK. The UK Youth Rocketry and International Youth Rocketry Challenges are fantastic examples of how our sectors are committed to encouraging young people across the UK into STEM careers. We touch more than 5000 young people globally with the Rocketry Competition and it is desperately important as our sectors continue to face significant skills shortages that hold back our ability to provide high skill, high productivity jobs for the economy. That is a challenge industry cannot solve alone, despite great initiatives like this. We must have partnership and adequate support from Government to unlock our full economic potential.”

Industry and Government Collaboration

With the UK’s space industry preparing for its first vertical rocket launch from home soil, Matt Archer, Launch Director at the UK Space Agency, emphasized the need for ongoing support for young STEM enthusiasts:

“As we countdown to the first vertical rocket launch from UK soil later this year, it is more important than ever for the whole of the space industry to be proactive in our support for the next generation of STEM professionals. A strong pipeline of talent is vital for our plans to grow this sector, and competitions like this play a significant role in giving students the chance to learn and to showcase their skills and ideas. Congratulations to Ampleforth College Rocket Club on becoming international champions.”

Impact on the UK Economy

STEM skills shortages pose a considerable challenge for the UK economy. The aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors are crucial, contributing £38.2 billion in value-added to the economy in 2023. This marked a significant 50% increase over the past decade. Turnover in these sectors reached £88.4 billion, with exports hitting £38.7 billion, illustrating their substantial economic impact.

The UK Youth Rocketry Challenge

The UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) is a national competition for young individuals aged 11-18. It encourages creativity and innovation, requiring participants to design, build, and launch rockets carrying a fragile payload. The competition’s rules and scoring parameters change annually, pushing students to continuously refine their designs.

The international finals are set for 26 July 2024 at the Farnborough International Airshow. For more information on UKROC and updates on upcoming events, visit their website and follow their social media channels:

• Website: UKROC
• Instagram: UKROC Instagram
• Facebook: UKROC Facebook

The back-to-back victories by Ampleforth College Rocket Club not only highlight the exceptional talent within the UK but also underscore the critical role of industry and government collaboration in nurturing future STEM professionals. As the aerospace and defence sectors continue to grow, initiatives like the Youth Rocketry Challenge are more important than ever in ensuring a strong, skilled workforce ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.