Grace Palmer from WMG Academy for Young Engineers Solihull is the 2025 Senior Engineering winner for her project ‘Thrive transfer aid’.
Inspired by the challenges faced by her young cousin, Grace wanted to find ways to improve the lives of disabled children and their families. She has created a new product to help transfer children comfortably whether that’s from bed to a desk chair or from a wheelchair to a rollercoaster. The ‘Thrive transfer aid’ also allows young children to be comfortably carried and enables them to sit at a restaurant table.
Grace’s product is designed to help families with disabled children aged 1 to 17, providing a more affordable and inclusive solution for those with moderate to severe disabilities.
Grace commented, ‘In the future, I hope to create and donate these products to charities, ensuring every family can access them regardless of financial circumstances. This would significantly improve their quality of life’.
All the winners and runners-up impressed The Competition judges, who commended them on their projects.
The awards are part of The Big Bang Competition, a nationwide competition for young engineers, scientists and technologists.
The winners of The Competition, which recognises and rewards talented young innovators, were announced at The Big Bang Fair, the UK’s largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) for young people held at Birmingham’s NEC over 17 June to 19 June. Run by EngineeringUK, The Fair is supported by organisations across the education and STEM sector including major supporter Rolls-Royce, BBC, EasyJet, Pixelia, Playground Games, National Highways and V&A museum.
Dr Hilary Leevers, EngineeringUK Chief Executive said: “Huge congratulations to all our winners, who have shown impressive creativity, knowledge and drive as they have worked on their projects. I hope they, and all the runners-up, are proud of their achievement. There are so many opportunities for them to continue with STEM in education and training and then in the workplace. I’m sure they have a bright future ahead.”
To find out more and discover all the winners of The Big Bang Competition 2025 visit: www.thebigbang.org.uk/competition-winners