Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Astro sponsor KM Bright Spark Award 2017
Astro are delighted to join BAE Systems and Pfizer in sponsoring the KM Bright Spark Award 2017, an exciting event promoting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) in primary and secondary schools.
The KM Bright Spark Awards help to attract students into the exciting world of science, technology, engineering and maths. The competition is open to both primary and secondary school students and there is no limit to the number of entries a school or even a group of students can submit. Each entry will be judged separately. Students are encouraged to collaborate using cross-curricular skills in maths, IT, science and engineering to investigate, innovate and create.
Steve Smith, co-founder and CTO of Astro said. “It is great to see an initiative that demonstrates just how accessible science is to students of all ages. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics are exciting, fun and cool subjects, anyone working in STEM knows that, but we need more young people following in our footsteps. KM Bright Spark Award is a powerful initiative, enabling young people to experience our world, and in doing so, they are more likely to consider a career in STEM themselves.”
KM Bright Spark Awards 2017 is now open for entries. The calibre of entries has been very high in the past and is expected to rise to even greater heights this year. The overall champions will be presented with the champions’ trophy and a cash prize of £500 at the annual awards event in Discovery Park, Sandwich in July.
Student teams will be filmed in school in advance to demonstrate the detail they are going to in order to complete their project. The project videos are screened by the judges and the teams with the best project entries going through to the finals at the annual awards event. The finals are run in a Dragons’ Den style format where students get the opportunity to present their creation and Dragons put the students through their paces on their project. Several different panels of dragons, comprising local business dignitaries will judge the varying project categories and present awards. Astro Managing Director, Steve Hodges, will be one of the Dragons on the day of the final presentations in July.
Hodges, went on to say. “KM Bright Spark Award really fits with the whole ethos at Astro. Astro has a long history of working on innovative projects and have never been afraid to push the boundaries. We also run a successful apprenticeship scheme. Our industry needs bright young people to inject creativity and drive innovation but equally importantly needs to encourage and challenge them to be able to present their ideas in a public forum and respond when being questioned about them.”
“One of the challenges we have as UK business is that we have no shortage of ideas and clever people but we don’t actively encourage young people to have the confidence in their ideas, or provide them the skills or opportunity to publicly present, or openly communicate them. This can result in much of their greatness being missed or overlooked when they enter the world of work. I love that KM Bright Spark not only draws out the innovative and creative side of young people’s thinking but also provides a platform for them to learn what it is like to have to present their thoughts and ideas.” Hodges continued.
Steve Smith concluded. “KM Bright Spark Awards complements other STEM initiatives I am involved on a wider scale with my Livery Company (The Information Technologists). I believe KM Bright Spark Awards will create many winners. Not only the finalists, but all of the young people that have their interest piqued by their project experience spurring them on to take on other projects and eventually STEM careers.”
– Ends –
For further information, please contact:
Astro – Steve Smith, steve.smith@astro.co.uk or Steve Hodges steve.hodges@astro.co.uk on +44 (0)203 058 7770
KM Charity team – http://www.kmcharityteam.co.uk/schools/brightspark/ or kmcharityteam@thekmgroup.co.uk
The Information Technologists Livery Company – https://www.wcit.org.uk
About Astro
Astro has been delivering technical solutions to solve business challenges for over 30 years. Founded by two former employees of BT and Cable and Wireless, Astro has gone on to deliver some of the most technically challenging and complex solutions in the market.
Providing services ranging from physical cabling and wireless LAN’s to cloud-based video conferencing and SIP services, key clients include Butlin’s, Grundon Waste Management, Motorpoint Arena, TGI Friday’s and BBC Wales.
Astro is headquartered in Hawley Manor, Dartford with staff based all over the country and partner organisations across the globe.
Notes to editors
Images
