London,
19
September
2017
|
10:34
Europe/Amsterdam

Premier Farnell Technology Challenge Inspires Next Generation of Coders

Students from sixteen schools and colleges across Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and Calderdale are getting an introduction to the world of technology with the help of global technology firm Premier Farnell.

The Premier Farnell Technology Challenge aims to raise aspirations and help young people aged 16 - 18 years explore careers in digital and tech, an industry which is set to grow by 15% in this region over the next decade.

A series of 16 separate challenges will ask teams of students to design and build a prototype of a piece of technology that will help someone with a physical or sensory impairment.

Over 400 students will take part in this year’s challenges, which will launch at each participating school and college this month. Students will take part in a range of workshops and activities designed by Premier Farnell and Leeds Beckett University on topics such as user-centred design and coding skills to help them design their concept.

Competitions, judged by industry experts from Premier Farnell, will be held at each school and college to choose winners to go forward to a regional final in Leeds on 5 December 2017.

Steve Carr, Global Head of Marketing for Premier Farnell said: “We are delighted to be running this challenge for a third year, this time focussing on students aged 16-18. As a global technology business based in Leeds, we are committed to introducing the next generation to technology and the opportunities that it presents – and where best to start and in the Yorkshire region. I’m excited to see the ideas that the students come up with.”

The challenge is organised with local social enterprise Ahead Partnership which has supported over 95,000 young people to date with real-life, hands-on experiences designed by local employers.

The competitions are part of the FutureJobs programme, a fully-funded service from aspire-igen, Leeds City Region LEP and the European Social Fund.

Stephanie Burras CBE, Ahead Partnership’s Chief Executive, said: “Over two million people work in digital in the UK and in this region, where demand is ever-increasing, it’s imperative that we help young people see the diverse opportunities available. We’re delighted to be helping Premier Farnell directly tackle this demand by challenging young people’s perceptions of the tech industry, helping them develop their creativity and focus on innovation. We’re really looking forward to seeing all the entries.”

Sarah Thomas, Access and Widening Participation Manager at Leeds Beckett University, said: “Leeds Beckett University is delighted to be involved in the Premier Farnell Technology Challenge. The project will equip participants with the creative and technical skills needed to pursue successful careers within the industry and enables our undergraduate students to share their expertise and gain valuable experience of working with young people in our region.”

For more information visit https://www.element14.com/community/community/stem-academy

Boilerplate

Farnell Global is a fast and reliable distributor of products and technology for electronic and industrial system design, maintenance and repair.  From research and design through prototype to production, Farnell helps its customers access the products and services they need 24/7.  With more than 80 years of experience, 47 localised websites, and a dedicated team of over 3,500 employees, Farnell provides every component its customers need to build the technology of tomorrow.

Farnell Global trades as Farnell in Europe, Newark in North America, and element14 in Asia Pacific.  It also sells direct to consumers through its CPC business in the UK.

Farnell Global has been part of the established global technology distributor, Avnet (Nasdaq: AVT), since 2016. Today, this relationship allows the company to support its customers at every stage of the product life cycle, offering a truly unique distribution model, as well as expertise in end-to-end delivery and product design.

For more information, visit http://www.farnell.com/