Alexander Dennis
‘Con Bot’ by Yusra – Year 6
Our Industry and University ProtoTeam Builds
Primary Engineer ProtoTeams form part of the ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’
Leaders Award Competition, furthering engagement between schools, pupils and our university and industry partners. ProtoTeams select from a range of shortlisted pupil ideas and drawings, choosing one to prototype, taking it from paper to reality in a journey of pure innovation.
ProtoTeams are encouraged to provide updates to Primary Engineer, enabling a wider audience of schools, the industry and the general public to also follow the build. See this years Prototeams or check out previous years on the links below.
Our Industry and University
ProtoTeam Builds
Each year we ask our Industry and University partners to choose a pupils idea to build into a Prototype and to be revealed at our Leaders Award ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do? awards ceremony. Below you will find the ProtoTeams and the prototypes.
See this years Prototeams or check out previous years on the links below.
2025-26 ProtoTeams
The Newark College and the Air and Space Institute
(East Midlands Railway)
‘Hearing Band Cochlear’ by Samuel – Year 3
PRIMARY ENGINEER MACROBERT MEDAL
These prototypes will be unveiled at our Exhibition and Awards at the end of the school year, and afterwards judging takes place for the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal. This celebrates the innovation, public engagement, and industry links of the university ProtoTeams and pupils who answered the question ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’.
In 2024/25 18 Prototypes were built and 9 were awarded medals. Read about our previous Medalists below.
PRIMARY ENGINEER MACROBERT MEDAL
These prototypes will be unveiled at our Exhibition and Awards at the end of the school year, and afterwards judging takes place for the Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal. This celebrates the innovation, public engagement, and industry links of the university ProtoTeams and pupils who answered the question ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’.
In 2024/25 18 Prototypes were built and 9 were awarded medals. Read about our previous Medalists below.
Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal 2025
Pupils and engineers were recognised for their innovation at 2025 Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Award Ceremony in London at Drapers Hall.
Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal 2024
Pupils and engineers were recognised for their innovation at 2024 Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Award Ceremony in Glasgow
Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal 2023
Pupils and engineers were recognised for their innovation at 2023 Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal Award Ceremony in London
Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal 2021
Six young people from across the UK were recognised as leading creative problem solvers in engineering innovation following the announcement at COP26.