The Platform Project re-launches its Enterprising Education services with tech challenge

Swindon-based non-profit The Platform Project recently re-launched its Enterprising Education services with a youth-led technology challenge. The project culminated at the end of August with a week-long challenge where the young participants built an interactive platform game from scratch and designed a 3D product to print and pitch to local entrepreneurs. The team also enlisted the help and experience of both Keith Phillips and Scott Gulliver as industry professionals from the tech sector in Wiltshire.

The Enterprising Education services that The Platform Project offer are interactive challenges that embed hands-on youth enterprise and career experiences into education and development opportunities. The projects are designed in collaboration with leading industry professionals to help bridge the gap between education and work and provide students with better access to emerging industry skills, advice, and CV-building experiences.

This latest enterprise challenge project was funded by Wiltshire Community Foundation and the Sustainable Futures Grants from the Science Museum Group in Wroughton as a way of bringing alive STEM based subjects and broadening interest in them for young people who may have not been previously interested.

Commenting on the return of the Enterprising Education services, The Platform Project’s founder, Sadie Sharp, says, “’m really excited about the re-launch.

“We’ve had a great time running this challenge and have seen some amazing skills. The group designed a platform game that introduces young children to what they might expect from working in an office, delivered in a very fun way! Students who had an interest in creative drawing and graphic design have been able to see how that can relate to technical game design, animation and CAD drawing – all of which are really viable career routes they wouldn’t have previously considered.

“Practical learning experiences really do stick for life, and the earlier young people start getting this type of experience, the better placed they are to make more informed choices about their career options. Learning about subjects like software, 3D design and the basic aspects of taking a product to market are skills that would benefit a whole range of different careers.”

The gaming challenge involved character design and animation, using industry standard software to design the platforms and interactive tasks, planning and testing the game, and then the business skills for taking their game to market.

“Gaming can be used in many practical applications so this project was a great way of getting young people to start thinking about how it can be used in a future career. Judging by the results I saw it certainly worked!”

The 3D printing challenge involved a brief for a product to be created that met a need or desire to sell. They had training on how to create their design using specialised 3D design software, they then spent time designing a business plan, sales flyer and social media content for their finished product.

Both challenges then culminated in the students pitching their creations to a Dragons Den style panel for feedback. Scott Gulliver Founder of Software firm Fluff Digital was one of the ‘dragons’ and helped to give the group some practical advice and guidance on their gaming projects.

Scott adds, “It was great to be involved with this project and see all the hard work that had been put in. Gaming can be used in many practical applications so this project was a great way of getting young people to start thinking about how it can be used in a future career. Judging by the results I saw it certainly worked!”

To find out more about ‘Enterprising Education, head over to the website here or email info@platformproject.co.uk.