The winners of the 2014 annual MakeIT! Competition were announced at an awards ceremony at the National Furniture Show at Rycotewood Furniture Centre, Oxfordshire, this month.
Attracting a host of industry professionals and finalist schools, the event celebrated the hard work and achievements of the thousands of students who took part in this year’s MakeIT! Furniture and MakeIT! Wood competitions.
At the event, 10 pupils from across the country were awarded category winners for their hard work, knowledge and designs. While Evie Butler, a Year 9 pupil from King Alfred’s School was announced as the 2014 MakeIT! Overall Winner. Evie was awarded the prize for the commerciality and originality of her chair design, and received an invite to the students evening at the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers plus an array of prizes courtesy of this year’s sponsors.
Chris Hyde, head of learning at the Rycotewood Furniture Centre, says: "This was a brilliant event. The MakeIT! Competition helps students to connect with their imagination and creativity. The entries seen demonstrated some good thinking and prototypes. It is very encouraging to see how the schools value learning by design and making."
As part of the MakeIT! Furniture programme, students are asked to design an item of furniture for use by one of the primary sectors, which can be manufactured using sustainable materials and eco-friendly manufacturing techniques. Within the MakeIT! Wood programme students have to research and design a product, identifying the type of raw materials used, considering sustainable design and investigating production processes, as well as showing their understanding of environmental issues in the wood and timber industries.
Commenting on the awards, Jonathan Ledger, MD of Proskills Academy, says: “The Proskills Schools Into Industry programmes are about inspiring young people to look at careers in the wood and furniture industries, and yet it is participating students and teachers themselves who are the absolute inspiration. Their enthusiasm to participate and to produce such high-quality entries is hard to contain. Watching the winners and finalists collect their prizes was a real honour, and it’s always good to see such dedication being justly rewarded. Well done to all who took part in MakeIT. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists.
"Of course, none of the MakeIT awards would be possible without the generosity of the wood and furniture employers and industry organisations who sponsor the MakeIT programme. We are deeply indebted to each and every sponsor and supporter and I offer my sincere thanks and gratitude.”
The sponsors were Didac, James Donaldson & Sons, British Woodworking Federation (BWF), British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM), The Timber Research and Development Association (TRADA), James Latham Thurrock, The Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers Ltd (AMUSF), The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers, Proskills Academy, City of Oxford College, Sally Clarke Furniture, T Brewer, Timber Trade Federation (TTF) and Glennon Brothers.
2013/14 category winners:
MakeIT! Furniture Year 9 Winner – Evie Butler – King Alfreds School
MakeIT! Furniture Year 10 Winner – Jake Wilburn – Altrincham College of Arts
MakeIT! Furniture Year 12 Winner – James Fitchett - Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School
Best Process and Presentation – James Mortley & Josh Steadman – Simon Langton Grammar School
Best Project work – Toby Reed – Henry Box School
Judges Special Commendation – Daniel Cornwall – Chatham and Clarendon Grammar School
MakeIT! Wood Year 9 Winner – Laurie Day – Henry Box School
MakeIT! Wood Year 10 Winner – Sam Blacker – St Albans' Catholic High School
Best Teacher – Mr Thomas Brewin – Chatham & Clarendon Grammar School
Furniture Makers Project Winner – Natalie Godfrey – Henry Box School
Overall Winner of MakeIT! 2014 - Evie Butler – King Alfreds School
The Proskills UK Group includes the National Skills Academy for Materials, Production & Supply and the Proskills Sector Skills Organisation, both supporting 10 manufacturing & process industries.
