SCHOOLCHILDREN were challenged to create a prototype to transport nuclear waste in Capenhurst.

Teenagers from schools across Cheshire and Merseyside showed their understanding of the nuclear industry and their creative talents for business at the Sellafield Ltd Capenhurst Make It Enterprising Challenge held in Ellesmere Port.

The event challenged 13 and 14-year-olds from 10 schools to design and build a 3D model prototype of Nuclear Environment Waste Transport Solutions (NEWTS) to transport and hold nuclear waste products, ready for recycling and reuse in the UK, Europe and worldwide.

Sellafield Ltd Capenhurst head of site Nick Welch said: “We have been delighted to support this event over the past few years as it allows us the opportunity to engage with the young people of the area who have an interest in design and manufacturing.

“We are keen to highlight this sector as an exciting area to work in, and this event is ideal as it targets students who may well consider joining our industry in the future.”

Their challenge was to become manufacturing managers for the day and form a business to design, manufacture and utilise an innovative NEWTS system, cost the vehicle and transport system, design a safety indicator system to alert the users and controllers to any issues, as well as monitor the safety, security and transport status of the material in transit.

The teams established themselves as mini-manufacturing companies and after selecting their job roles developed their own sales, marketing and safety plans. They then presented their ideas to the Sellafield Ltd Capenhurst team.

Make It events co-ordinator Stephen Melia said: “Sectors such as the nuclear industry are reliant upon a highly skilled workforce and this is only set to increase as we move toward a low carbon economy. We’re working with manufacturers like Sellafield Ltd to show young people the range of career options that advanced manufacturing presents and the opportunities that are available once they leave school.”