Who Won The UK LEGO Robotics Final? Meet The Young Engineers Building A Better World

When you think of Lego, you probably picture building little houses or cars at the kitchen table. But for a bunch of bright young minds from across Britain, Lego means something way bigger. It means robots, real-world problems, and a chance to change the future—one tiny brick at a time.

On Saturday 3 May, the FIRST® LEGO® League UK Final took place at the Harrogate Convention Centre, and let’s just say—it wasn’t your average weekend activity. Sixty-seven teams from across the UK battled it out in a Lego-filled showdown that was part science fair, part robot Olympics, and all-around brilliant.

And the big winners? A Yorkshire team called the Incredilegos from Bradford Grammar School in Bradford, who snagged the Champion’s Award. Not only that, but now they’re off to Florida in June to represent the UK in an international Lego robotics competition. No pressure, right?

What is the FIRST® LEGO® League and why does it matter?

If you’ve never heard of the FIRST® LEGO® League, think of it as the World Cup of STEM (that’s Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). Kids aged 9 to 16 team up to build robots from Lego, then program them to take on challenges inspired by real issues. And we’re not talking simple stuff here.

This year’s theme was #SUBMERGED, which meant the robots had to tackle underwater problems—like cleaning up the ocean or exploring marine ecosystems. Imagine designing a Lego robot that can save the planet’s coral reefs. That’s the level we’re talking about.

On top of the techy bits, teams also have to come up with creative ideas to fix real environmental problems, then pitch them to a panel of expert judges. It’s Dragons’ Den meets Blue Planet.

Yorkshire’s Incredilegos: the team with big ideas and even bigger teamwork

Bradford Grammar School’s team wasn’t just building robots—they were building confidence, teamwork and leadership skills too. Their teacher, Nadeem Asghar, who leads Science and Computing at the school, couldn’t have been prouder.

“The children are still giddy with excitement,” he said. “We’ve been part of this programme for three years now. What I love most is that anyone can take part. The older kids mentor the younger ones, and boys and girls work together—it’s really inclusive.”

That kind of peer mentoring and hands-on learning is exactly what programmes like this aim to encourage. It’s not just about the coding (though there’s a lot of that)—it’s about creating space for kids to explore new ideas without feeling boxed in by a textbook.

A celebration of imagination and innovation

The whole event was buzzing with ideas. Hannah Rees, Senior Education Manager at FIRST® LEGO® League, said it best:

“Hearing young people talk about cleaning plastic from the oceans and making the world a better place—it just fills you with hope.”

It wasn’t just about competing, either. The day was a chance for kids to show off months of hard work. Every team had been planning, building, coding, and testing their robots for weeks before the big final. That kind of dedication shows real passion—and, let’s be honest, it’s way more productive than scrolling TikTok for hours.

The competition celebrated more than just the best bots. Awards were handed out for:

• Robot Design
• Core Values (like teamwork and inclusion)
• Innovation Projects
• Robot Performance
• And of course, the big one—the Champion’s Award, which the Incredilegos took home

Not just playing around—why this matters for the future

This isn’t just a fun day out (though it absolutely is that). Events like this are tackling a bigger problem—the STEM skills gap. Right now, the UK (and loads of other places) are facing a shortage of people trained in science, tech and engineering jobs.

By getting kids involved early—and letting them see that STEM can be creative, exciting, and yes, fun—we’re planting the seeds for a new generation of inventors, researchers, and engineers.

Big names like BECHTEL, WOLF SPEED, and QUALCOMM backed the event because they know this stuff matters. These aren’t just games. They’re stepping stones to real careers, real solutions, and maybe even real inventions that could change the world.

So… what’s next?

The Incredilegos are now preparing for the Open International FIRST® LEGO® League event in Florida, which takes place in June. They’ll be up against the best of the best from all over the world.

Whether they win or not, one thing’s clear: they’re already a massive success story. And if you’re a parent, teacher or just someone who loves Lego and big ideas, it might be worth checking out how to get involved for next year.

You can even watch the full final here: https://lnkd.in/eritzRHm

Final brick in the wall?

It’s easy to think that Lego is just child’s play. But give a kid a robot kit and a real-world problem, and you might be surprised what they can do. These young engineers aren’t just dreaming of a better future—they’re building it. One block at a time.

For more info on how to get stuck in: IET FIRST® LEGO® League