Accu looks to roll out robotics STEM challenge across West Yorkshire schools

The six-week Antweight AccuBots challenge, which concluded with an exciting robot combat finale at Accu's Brockholes headquarters, successfully enhanced pupils' practical engineering experience and technical design skills whilst bringing real-world engineering applications directly into the classroom.

Following the pilot's success in May, students worked alongside Accu's Lead Engineer Patrick Faulkner to create miniature combat robots similar to those featured on TV's Robot Wars, but scaled down to weigh less than 150g and measure smaller than 15cm². Accu’s project guided students through comprehensive engineering milestones including CAD (Computer Aided Design), early prototyping, parts handover, print checks, wiring, drive integration, and driver practice.

The grand finale saw five student-designed robots compete in three-minute combat rounds within an enclosed arena, with the flipper-designed robot Circuit Breaker becoming the overall winner. Accu provided essential components and arena access throughout the project, ensuring students gained hands-on experience with precision engineering equipment.

"The project we set for Holmfirth High School builds on many competencies that are needed in engineering roles, including CAD, 3D printing, electronics, metrology, engineering skills and teamwork," explained Patrick Faulkner, lead engineer at Accu. "It was great to work alongside the pupils during the design and engineering stages - it just goes to show what can be achieved when schools and businesses work together on real life projects."

The initiative directly addresses the UK's critical engineering skills shortage, with significantly more vacancies than qualified engineers available to fill them. 

Accu's MD Alastair Morris emphasises the strategic importance of early intervention. "The UK needs more engineers and there are far more vacancies than there are skilled engineers to fill them. We wanted to play our part in addressing this and it starts in schools. Our combat robots challenge is an exciting and fun way to bring STEM (Science Technology Engineering Maths) to life in schools, allowing students to get hands-on with precision components and hone their CAD design and engineering skills," he stated.

Looking ahead, Accu is considering an inter-schools championship with the final potentially being held at the Accu Stadium at Huddersfield Town AFC in 2026, creating a prestigious platform to celebrate student engineering achievements across the region.

The robotics challenge represents part of Accu's broader commitment to STEM education, building on its sponsorship of the FIRST Tech Challenge UK national championships and exhibiting at the Makers Central event at The NEC Birmingham alongside Kids Invent Stuff.

"We're really proud of what the pupils achieved with their Antweight combat robots and look forward to being able to extend this challenge to other schools across the region. This programme demonstrates how effective partnerships between industry and education can inspire the next generation of engineers whilst providing students with invaluable practical skills," Morris added.

If the programme was rolled out across West Yorkshire, it would provide secondary schools across the region with access to professional engineering mentorship, precision components, and state-of-the-art facilities, ensuring students receive an authentic industry experience that could shape their future career paths.

If any school would like to register interest in the programme click here

For more information about Accu, visit: www.accu.co.uk