BLOODHOUND CASE STUDY

Bloodhound Scotland Rocket Car Challenge

Further information W: www.esp-scotland.ac.uk E: info@esp-scotland.ac.uk

ESP is a collaboration of Scotland’s colleges established to increase Scotland’s

capacity to deliver skills for the engineering, energy and construction sectors.

Through the partnership ESP ensures that the right skills are being delivered to

guarantee that Scotland has the trained and competent workforce required by our

sectors.

Key Project Facts

Project:

Bloodhound Rocket Car Challenge

Colleges / Partners

Project Aim:

In support of our STEM Strategy aims ESP

has:

Established a network of STEM Hubs

through ESP member colleges.

Brought Bloodhound SSC to Scotland

as a pilot programme to establish the

network of STEM Hubs.

Raised awareness of STEM subjects

and STEM careers through

engagement with schools across Scot-

land.

Key Achievements:

15 College hubs trained and equipped

to run Bloodhound across Scotland

40 College staff trained as Bloodhound

Ambassadors

45 Army personnel trained as

Bloodhound Ambassadors

92 schools engaged with Bloodhound

Scotland Rocket Car Challenge

Scottish Community — members have

access to dedicated Scottish website

containing STEM support materials for

use in the classroom to correspond

with the project.

Bringing Bloodhound to Scotland:

The BLOODHOUND SSC Project is a

global Engineering Adventure, using a

1000mph world land speed record attempt

to inspire the next generation to enjoy,

explore and get involved in science,

technology, engineering and mathematics

(STEM).

Initial training sessions supported by the

Army, ESP and SERCC took place at

Edinburgh College, City of Glasgow

College and Inverness (Cameron

Barracks). These sessions resulted in 40

college staff from across Scotland along

with a number of army personnel being

trained by BLOODHOUND as

Ambassadors, able to deliver Bloodhound

workshops to school pupils across

Scotland. This has allowed the

establishment of the Bloodhound Scotland

Community consisting of an initial 15

college hubs. These hubs cover a wide

geographic area including Thurso, Isle of

Lewis, Dumfries & Galloway and the

Borders.

Each hub has been equipped with a race

hub kit and a supply of rocket cars through

support from SSERC, the Army and ESP.

With vital support from the Army the

college hubs have been able to engage

with their local schools and deliver

Bloodhound Rocket Car workshops.

Bloodhound Scotland Rocket Car

Challenge: Race for the Line

On 18 April 2016 Scotland’s Rocket Car

Challenge was launched nationally. The

competition has secondary pupils aged 11

-16 in teams of 2-4 compete to design,

build and race a Bloodhound SSC model

rocket car. All 15 hubs across Scotland

host national heats in May 2016 with 92

schools registered to take part.

The fasted 30 teams from the heats will

compete in the National Final on 9 June

2016 at Glasgow Science Centre for a

chance to win £1000 for their school and a

trip to Newquay in early 2017 to see the

real Bloodhound rocket car test run up to

250mph before it is transported to South

Africa for its record breaking attempt.

“We are delighted to be involved in the Bloodhound

SSC Education Project and grateful to our colleagues

at ESP in providing the funding for this highly

engaging STEM project. As a result, we were able to

provide a STEM experience for over 150 school pupils

from our partner schools over the course of a packed

two day event”

West College Scotland

“We’re facing a shortage of STEM skills in the UK, combined with rapidly evolving technology which our education system has difficulty keeping up with. The BBC micro:bit Model Rocket Car Competition – “Race for the Line” is one of the programmes Microsoft is supporting to help bridge the gap, and equip the next generation of entrepreneurs and innovators with the tools and the inspiration they need to succeed.”

Liam Kelly, General Manager, Developer Experience, Microsoft

“We are delighted to bring the Rocket Car Challenge to Scotland and looking forward to working with colleges across the country to deliver these exciting workshops to young people.

Ed Fenton Regional Operations Manager, Army Careers