Inspiring Innovation with the Emma Wiggs Challenge

The Emma Wiggs Challenge, an inspiring initiative led by Emma, has now completed its second successful year, continuing to spark creativity and innovation among engineering apprentices at OAS (Oxfordshire Advanced Skills) in Culham, Oxfordshire. 

Originally launched in 2023, this challenge encourages engineering apprentices to design practical solutions that improve daily life for individuals with disabilities. Following her earlier collaboration with OAS’ partners, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC), in designing a bespoke canoe paddle, which helped power her to gold at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, Emma returned to OAS to present the apprentices with another meaningful design task.

This year's challenge saw the apprentices once again rise to the occasion, working individually or in small teams to create innovative design concepts. Supported by virtual workshops led by Emma, the apprentices were able to refine their ideas and produce remarkable solutions. 

The winning entry, "Sense-Aid" by Sophie Walters, was a wristband designed to offer comfort and grounding to autistic adults during stressful moments, while the runner-up project, "Brush," addressed the challenge wheelchair users face in keeping their tyres clean. Other noteworthy entries included "The BBK," a Braille knife designed for visually impaired individuals, and "Flexi-height Static-ease," a solution to improve comfort and safety for wheelchair users.

Following the success of the second Emma Wiggs Challenge, the winning apprentices are set to visit the National Water Sports Centre in Nottingham, just as their 2023 predecessors did. Emma Wiggs expressed her pride in the apprentices' work:

 "I have been absolutely blown away by the unique solutions that the finalists have produced. Their ability to apply their engineering skills to create these fantastic, innovative solutions makes me very proud of all their efforts." 

Emma Johnstone, head of finance and operations at OAS, echoed this sentiment, commending the apprentices for their dedication and the MTC Training team for their invaluable support. As the Emma Wiggs Challenge continues to evolve, it stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and the impact of engineering in improving lives.

Learn more about the Emma Wiggs Challenge on the OAS website.