Budding engineers of the future in Ely were inspired by robotics kits to participate in a global competition.

Ely Standard: Three local schools, including Ely College, have been provided with robotics kits to participate in the VEX EDR competitionThree local schools, including Ely College, have been provided with robotics kits to participate in the VEX EDR competition (Image: Archant)

Three local schools, including Ely College, have been provided with robotics kits to participate in the VEX EDR competition - a globally organised robotics competition with 20,000 teams across 45 countries.

A group of students have taken up the challenge and the first robots are already underway.

East Cambs Robotics is an initiative set up by a local automation engineering company, Innomech, to help inspire the next generation of young engineers.

Working in line with the year-long government campaign ‘Year of Engineering’, Innomech are passionate about tackling the engineering skills gap.

Ely Standard: Three local schools, including Ely College, have been provided with robotics kits to participate in the VEX EDR competitionThree local schools, including Ely College, have been provided with robotics kits to participate in the VEX EDR competition (Image: Archant)

The first VEX East Cambs schools event, involving Ely College, Soham and Witchford is set for July 10 at Ely College.

From September 2018 the teams will participate in VEX EDR 2017-18 regional competitions, with the possibility of progressing to national or even world level.

The competition will involve three challenges – volleyball, basketball and cube stacking.

While Innomech has given the scheme a good start, it will be for the team to support themselves through fundraising.

Sponsorship will be the main source of income, so if any individual or company wish to offer their support they should get in touch with Mr A Fisher on afisher@elycollege.co.uk