A group of teenagers from St Edmund Arrowsmith High School have been recognised for their ingenuity by a leading Wigan business after designing a car of the future.
Pupils from secondary schools around Corkills Volkswagen on Wallgate, embarked on a design project to create a virtual vehicle with the chance of winning a VIP trip to a live recording of the BBC2 television show, Top Gear.
The young designers were tasked by the Volkswagen retailer with producing a marketing strategy for a virtual next generation vehicle taking into consideration fuel economy, specification, pricing policy and initiative new safety features.
The winning pupils were Megan Whittle, Bethany Taylor, Jessica Affleck, Harry Booth and Tristan Brown who demonstrated a thorough understanding of the project as Corkills Volkswagen’s brand manager, Jacqui Kaye, explained.
“We were overwhelmed with the response and effort that each school went to but it was felt that the St Edmund Arrowsmith students just had the edge.
“They invented an ingenious new safety feature called ‘Reflex Test’ which required drivers to complete a touch test before every journey to ensure that they were safe to drive, otherwise the vehicle would not start.
“In addition the pupils produced drawings of the vehicle as well as 3D plastic and clay structures to demonstrate a realistic interpretation of the vehicle. Coupled with their own ‘VWigan’ branded marketing brochures and t-shirts it was felt that this inventiveness and attention to detail helped to secure their win.”
As part of the VIP prize the pupils, with their teachers, will attend a filming of the Top Gear television show and receive a back stage tour, meet the stars of the show and feature in the programme’s audience.
Speaking of the win, teacher Jon Peters said: “The pupils were thrilled to win. They have all worked as a team to ensure that every stage of the project was thoroughly explored and developed as realistically as possible. This prize is testament to their hard work and dedication.”
The Wigan business continually reviews ways in which it can work with the community and believes it is important to support the next generation where it can.
Jacqui continued: “These youngsters are our work force of the future and it is important for them to understand the various opportunities available to them within the motoring industry.
“Judging was difficult and we were delighted to be joined by Volkswagen’s regional brand and area managers as well as our own experts as part of our judging panel.
“We would like to congratulate all the pupils who entered, all projects were of a very high calibre but there could only be one overall winner and that was the team from St Edmund Arrowsmith High School.”
Other students who entered the competition were from Rose Bridge High School, Wigan and Bedford High School in Leigh.