YOUNG engineers from across the region's schools are being encouraged to put their skills to the test in a region-wide competition.

The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) is challenging Year 7 and 8 students, and those in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) clubs, from North-East schools to enter its Inspire competition.

Teams will have to produce a two-minute advert to attract people into a career in civil engineering - an industry which requires 87,000 new personnel each year to fill 2.6 million job openings from 2012 to 2022.

Entries will be assessed by a panel of professional engineers, and qualifying teams will be invited to a finals day in April 2018, where they will work as real-life civil engineers to complete a practical construction project.

The winning team will receive £500 for their school and a £50 shopping voucher for each team member.

The winners of the 2016/17 competition were a group from Staindrop School, County Durham.

Penny Marshall, Regional Director for ICE in the North-East, said: “The truth is, the UK does not have enough engineers to meet demand, so we are always looking at new ways to address the skills shortage.

"We have to double the number of engineering apprentices and double the number of people with engineering qualifications. But proactive steps need to be taken to inspire people to want a career in industry at an early age.

“The ICE Inspire initiative is the perfect way for us to not only spot young talent, but also get insight into how young people think they should be marketed to.

"Because as a profession we need innovative ideas to attract engineers from all areas of society, ensuring our workforce is future proof.”

  • To enter, download and complete a registration form from ice.org.uk and email it to iceneambassadors@gmail.com before 5pm on December 15.