Make it in Great Britain Challenge

Campaign aims to change outdated perceptions of the manufacturing industry. Get your thinking caps on and put forward your own creative ideas

The competition is aimed at finding the most innovative pre-market products, processes and concepts in manufacturing that the UK has to offer.

Judges are seeking entries across five categories that represent the breadth and depth of the manufacturing industry. The categories include Make it Stronger, Make it Smarter, Make it Sustainable and Make it Life Changing. A final category, Make it Breakthrough, is only open to people aged 16–21 and entries can cover any of the categories.

Prisk said: “The Make it in Great Britain campaign is all about transforming the image of modern UK manufacturing, and raising awareness of its importance to our nation's economy. The challenge creates the perfect platform to celebrate the most innovative and creative manufacturing minds out there today.”

He added that the competition would help showcase their skills and may kick-start ideas into commercial ventures.

Members of the public will be able to vote on the finalists of each category with the winning entries displayed at an exhibition at the Science Museum in London during the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer. Visitors to the six-week exhibition will be invited to vote on their favourite entry. The winners from each weekly vote will feature together in the final week of the exhibit.

Will Butler-Adams, managing director of Brompton Bicycles and one of the competition's judges, said: “The Make it in Great Britain Challenge will remind us how many fantastic things we make across the UK. I hope it will inspire Brits to put their thinking caps on and rise to the challenge to put forward their very own creative ideas.”

• Details of how to enter can be found at bis.gov.uk/makeitingreatbritain.
  The deadline for entries is Thursday 5 April.