Apprentice Automation Challenge 2026: registration open

We are excited to announce that team registration for the 2026 competition is now officially open: deadline for entries is 13 March 2026.

Register your team of apprentices via the Challenge website and get involved in our exciting and highly accessible engineering education competition.

Open to teams of apprentices from companies and universities around the world, we encourage you and your classmates to get involved, have fun, and develop valuable practical skills and experience to compliment your university course and career.

Getting involved is easy:

• Create your team
• Download the 2026 rules
• Complete the application form by 13 March 2026
• Start designing and building your device!

We accept teams of up to six apprentices and there's no limit on the number of teams from one company or university; if you have any questions, visit the Challenge website or drop our team an email.

We look forward to welcoming new and returning teams to the competition and seeing a new crop of devices.

Apprentice Automation Challenge overview

Apprentice Automation Challenge provides a brilliant opportunity for talented apprentices to compete in an innovative design and manufacturing challenge to automate an everyday device. Participants will be asked to submit a report which is to include a design specification, manufacturing instructions, user manual and a business case for the mass production and sale of the product.

The prototypes will be judged at the Finals event which takes place in September at the Manufacturing Technology Centre, Coventry, where the Apprentice Automation Challenge Champions will be crowned and awarded a £2,000 prize, together with the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Smart Manufacturing Expo, organised by The Manufacturer.

The Apprentice Automation Challenge (AAC) is organised by the Institution's Manufacturing Industries Division’s Young Members Committee.