If a bridge across the Severn from Gheluvelt Park to Kepax Park is ever built, it could well be designed by children from Worcester.

That’s the job set to eight-to-11-year-olds as part of the city’s Engineering Challenge for primary schools organised by Worcester City Council, Worcestershire LEP and STEMworks, while the city council is seriously considering building just such a bridge

St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School in Warndon was one of the schools to take part in the heats of the challenge

“It’s been really good – it’s different and I’ve found it fairly easy,” said pupil Leon Kaminski. Ethan Mackinnon added, “I’d maybe like to be a nuclear engineer or an inventor when I grow up.”

Class teacher Rebecca Hill is also enthusiastic: “Kids love building – it gives them an opportunity to let their imagination run wild.The whole class is taking part – it’s good to see the girls getting involved and showing they can be great engineers too.”

The idea is to let youngsters get an idea of what engineering really involved, with the aim to get more of them to study the subject, with the country suffering a shortage of engineers and technicians.

A winning pair of students will be chosen from each participating school to compete in the final, which will take place in Worcester’s Hive on Friday 2 March. Worcester Bosch’s CEO Carl Arntzen and Philippa Smith, Deputy Director of Place at the Guildhalll will help judge the final.

There is still time to enter this year’s competition – contact Deborah Reed, at STEMWorks on admin@stemworks.co.uk or call 01452 865028

Councillor Geoff Williams, vice chair of the city council’s Economic Development and Place Committee, said: “We would like children in every school in Worcester to have some hands-on experience of engineering, a clearer understanding of what engineers do and the huge impact their work can have in everyday life.

“Local employers tell us they are crying out for more people with specialist engineering, science and computing knowledge – there are really fantastic career prospects out there for those who do develop these skills.”

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of Worcestershire LEP said: “Worcestershire is a county that has a number of science and technology based businesses. Those businesses are experiencing skills shortage and therefore this exciting initiative is inspiring the next generation of engineers who will drive the economy in the future.”

Competing Worcester schools are: Claines Primary School; Cranham Primary School; Carnforth School; Holymount School; Lyppard Grange Primary School; Nunnery Wood Primary School; Oasis Academy Warndon; Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School; Perrywood Primary School; St. Barnabas CE Primary School; St. George’s CE Primary School; St. George’s Catholic Primary School; St. Joseph’s Catholic Primary School; Stanley Road Primary School and Whittington CE Primary School.