FIRST LEGO League – Gateshead and Grown-ups
This year we are bringing FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge to another new part of the North East. In the third in this three-part series, we meet our new partners, Aspire Technology Solutions, who are supporting our Gateshead event, as well as finding out what comes next for the teams that find success in the regional tournaments. I'll also share how LEGO robots are not just for kids and how you can take on a robot challenge with your colleagues, with our LEGO Robotics for Business programme.
FIRST® LEGO® League Gateshead
As part of our efforts to bring FIRST® LEGO® League to a wider audience, this year we are running a new FIRST® LEGO® League Challenge tournament in Gateshead. This complements our three tournaments for North Tyneside and Northumberland schools as well as our new Teesside event.
Our partners and hosts for the new Gateshead event are Aspire Technology Solutions, an award-winning managed service provider and cyber security services provider specialising in cloud, connectivity and IT support. Their fabulous offices on Pipewell Quay in Gateshead will be a fine venue for the tournament and will no-doubt 'wow' the students that attend as they look out of the glass front, straight onto the River Tyne and the famous bridges of Newcastle and Gateshead.
We've been delighted to work with and support Aspire for the last couple of years as they've attended other events that support STEM and Education in the North East, such as Sage's EmPower Cyber events at St James' Park. But now they are joining the FIRST® LEGO® League family.
Did you miss part 1 & 2?
You can catch up with the other two articles in this series here:
Mark Bennett, their People Development Partner, explains why they wanted to get involved.
"At Aspire, we're committed to offering IT opportunities to people from all backgrounds. We want to encourage young people to explore careers in STEM, particularly IT. Aspire offers career opportunities through our three annual apprenticeship cohorts. Hosting a First Lego League Final at our Gateshead HQ gives students a chance to see what a technology business looks like from the inside.
We became involved with the First Lego League by volunteering at other finals. Seeing the event's impact on attendees was inspiring and motivated Aspire to host this event. We're thrilled to see nearly equal gender representation among the participants and hope to encourage this trend through education and careers, striving to make STEM careers an option for everyone. The Aspire volunteer team is excited to host the day and hopes this is the first of many finals we host."
What comes next for teams?
At each regional tournament a champion team is crowned. They are the team that has the highest score across all four strands of FIRST LEGO League:
- The Robot Game
- Robot Design
- The Innovation Project
- Core Values
Regional champion teams are invited to go on the Institution of Engineering and Technology's (IET) FIRST LEGO League UK national finals where around 80 teams from all across England, Scotland and Wales come together to battle it out to become our national champions! Beyond that, there are international tournaments for teams that progress.
The UK finals return to the Harrogate Convention centre on Saturday 3rd May this year. It's a truly inspiring day where some of the brightest young minds in the UK share their passion for STEM, teamwork and general brilliance.
This short video from the IET gives a wonderful flavour of an incredible event.
LEGO Robotics for Business
If all this talk of LEGO and robots has you a little bit jealous and thinking, 'why didn't we have this when I was at school?', well, I'm totally with you. I would have loved the chance to team up with friends and be part of FIRST LEGO League.
But fear not! We are delighted to also offer our LEGO® Robotics for Business service. The scheme is designed to offer a fantastic team-building experience to north east businesses while also engaging them in STEM education in our region.
Teams of adults will get the chance to take on the robot game and design, build and code LEGO Spike Prime robots to complete a series of missions in an assault-course style time trial, with a bit of friendly competition thrown in for good measure! Will they measure up to what students in our schools can do with their robots? Only time will tell!
Companies will also have the option to fulfil their corporate social responsibility goals by supporting schools with their participation in FIRST LEGO League, through sponsorship of equipment, entry fees, or supporting entirely new tournaments in regions where there is currently no provision.
Ready to find out more?
Head to our Robotics for Business page to download our full brochure and find out more, or get in touch to enquire or book your event (neil.brown@northtyneside.gov.uk)
