Quinn London and EDT Forge Pathways to Sustainable Innovation: Empowering Students Through STEM

Quinn London is delighted to showcase our collaboration with EDT (Engineering Development Trust) for the 2024 Bronze Cadet Programme, aimed at igniting STEM career interest among students aged 13 and 14. Over the past 12 transformative weeks, our team of five dedicated staff members has actively engaged with students from Mossbourne Community Academy in Hackney, Arts & Media School—Islington, Jewish Community Secondary School, and Ark Pioneer Academy in Barnet. Together, we’ve guided these budding innovators through real-world STEM challenges focused on innovating our built environment to tackle sustainability issues.

At Mossbourne Community Academy, Ted Goodchild and Conor McDonald worked closely with students, exploring sustainable energy sources and strategies to mitigate rising sea levels’ impacts on a theoretical island-based school environment. Meanwhile, at Arts & Media School—Islington, Sean Haugh and Holly Whitworth inspired creativity, guiding students through challenges in waste management and energy consumption within theme park settings. Their approach integrated artistic creativity with technological innovation to devise sustainable solutions.

Joel Hall mentored students at Jewish Community Secondary School and Ark Pioneer Academy in Barnet, focusing on adapting existing buildings and designing new housing solutions resilient to extreme heat—an essential adaptation in the face of climate change. Throughout the programme, our mentors made impactful school visits, providing hands-on support, answering questions, and helping students refine their ideas. These interactions were crucial, offering students direct exposure to industry insights and the practical application of their projects.

Quinn London’s collaboration with EDT’s Bronze Cadet Programme was bolstered by support across our organization. Edel Ferry, our Sustainability Advisor, engaged students in discussions about Quinn London’s path to carbon neutrality, offering valuable career insights. An additional highlight was the group visit to Homerton University Hospital, where students learned firsthand from Nic Doig and Martin Baldwin about the potential impact of their innovations on the built environment.

We would also like to acknowledge the, four senior staff members at Quinn London dedicated their time on June 12th to support the assessment day activities, by providing rigorous evaluation and constructive feedback. This event marked a significant milestone, with each group presenting detailed reports.

Finally, the EDT Programme concluded with a grand celebration on July 2nd, highlighting the exceptional achievements of its participants. We are thrilled to announce that Jewish Community Secondary School earned the distinguished Project of the Year award, a testament to their outstanding work and dedication. Furthermore, Mossbourne Community Academy captured the People’s Choice Award, adding another layer of success to the evening’s festivities. Congratulations to all the students for their remarkable accomplishments!

Karen Hancock, Senior Science Technician at Jewish Community Secondary School, reflected on the impact: “Quinn London’s support of the EDT Bronze Industrial Cadet Programme has been fantastic; this initiative encourages so much growth in the students; they are so lucky to have so much exposure to industry professionals.” Karen further added, “The support we received from our Quinn London mentor was above and beyond what we have experienced from our industry mentors in the past, and really enhanced our experience this time around.”

Maria Blake, EDT’s Education and Events Lead, echoed the sentiment: “Quinn London’s involvement greatly enriches the programme, bridging the gap between classroom learning and industry practice.”

Quinn London would like to extend its heartfelt appreciation to all teachers and support staff at each school for their role in making this programme a resounding success. Special thanks go to the EDT team, particularly Maria Blake, for their invaluable support. We are immensely proud of our mentors and students; they are poised to become tomorrow’s leaders in sustainability and innovation.