- Data shows Brits are creating their own resourceful ways to live more sustainably and tackle the ongoing cost-of-living crisis with home inventions
- Gen Z are leading the charge and trying to make a difference to society, with the number of TikTok videos in the UK with the hashtag #sustainableliving increasing by 190% in the last year
In a bid to boost the number of UK engineers by highlighting that anyone has the potential to be an engineer, the Royal Academy of Engineering has teamed up with Dragons’ Den investor and successful entrepreneur, Deborah Meaden, to launch an “Everyday Engineering” competition. The competition invites the public to release their “inner engineer” by submitting ideas and creations that aim to make daily life more sustainable. It serves as a reminder that everyone has the capability to think like an engineer and that engineering habits - like problem spotting and creative problem solving – can come from anyone.
The competition launches as data, analysed by the Academy, shows a trend for sustainable home inventions is gripping the UK, as Brits take sustainability and tackling the cost-of-living-crisis into their own hands.
The number of TikTok videos in the UK with the hashtag “#sustainableliving” have increased by 190% in the last year, coinciding with a boom in influencers promoting inventions which make everyday life more sustainable.1 This includes social media sensation James Stewart, a sustainable living content creator who has seen his follower count grow to over 17,000 in the six months he’s been on the video-sharing platform.2 Sustainable inventions he has promoted include Bee Bricks, which provide bees with safe spaces in urban environments, and have become part of building regulations in Brighton, and a Liquid Tree which fights air pollution using water and micro algae.
With 40% of TikTok’s UK audience coming from the Gen Z age group, young people are leading the charge and trying to make a difference to society.3 But Brits of all ages are embracing this resourceful attitude, with a fifth (20%) of people in the UK saying that individuals have more responsibility for supporting sustainable initiatives than corporations or international organisations.4
Seeing the nation embrace its inventive side, with 44% millennials (increasing to 51% for Gen Z) now describing themselves as creative individuals, will be welcome news to the UK’s engineering community, amidst concerns around the perception of engineering preventing young people from considering a career in the profession. While engineering will play a pivotal role in achieving the UK’s net-zero goals, the country does not currently have enough engineers to meet this demand.
That’s why this National Engineering Day (Wednesday 1 November 2023), the Royal Academy of Engineering will announce the winner of its “Everyday Engineering” competition, with a public vote on social media deciding the best invention. The lucky winner will have the opportunity to meet Deborah Meaden and get her advice on their idea, as well as an award from the Royal Academy of Engineering and a mentoring session from its Enterprise Hub. The Enterprise Hub supports talented entrepreneurs to transform breakthrough engineering innovations into disruptive, scalable businesses by connecting talent with expert-led training and mentoring from the unique, prestigious network of Academy Fellows, which includes some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders.
Successful entrepreneur and Dragons’ Den Investor, Deborah Meaden, said: “Sustainable inventions and the businesses that come out of them will be the key to meeting the UK’s net zero goals and tackling climate change. These inventions would not be possible without the engineers who create them. From a revolutionary new type of car battery made in a shed to a home-compostable alternative to plastic film created in a kitchen, I passionately believe everyone has the capability to think like an engineer and create something that positively impacts both people and planet.
“It’s fantastic to be part of a competition that embraces these values, and I can’t wait to see the ideas people come up with. Whether you have a plan to improve an existing product or have a unique idea that could be the answer to solving the most pressing environmental issues facing our society today through engineering, I urge you to enter.”
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “We’re delighted to have Deborah Meaden involved with National Engineering Day. Her passion and dedication to sustainability are an inspiration to entrepreneurs across the UK, and we hope her commitment to innovation will help stimulate a new generation of creators.
“I look forward to seeing the nation’s ideas for sustainable inventions and to discovering everyday engineers across the country. Ideas to create a more sustainable everyday can come from anyone, and this competition is a fantastic way to celebrate the varying skillsets that our industry requires.
“The UK urgently needs more engineers if we are to meet our shared societal challenges, including climate change. We hope that through National Engineering Day we can raise awareness of the vital role engineers play in addressing this and encourage more people across the nation to consider this rewarding career path.”
Find out more about National Engineering Day here and the “Everyday Engineering” competition here.
Notes for editors
About the Everyday Engineering competition
Entry requirements can be found at www.raeng.org.uk/ned-competitionThe Royal Academy of Engineering is looking for the ideas and innovations (which exist as either a sketch, prototype or model) that could make our daily lives more sustainable. A sustainable innovation is something that’s making our daily lives function in a less wasteful way – that’s wasteful in terms of energy, finances, resources. It’s something that is designed to make our lives and our impact on the planet better without negatively impacting on people or the planet.
This could be a living chandelier light which purifies the air indoors, or a biodegradable ice-cooler box or edible tableware – planet-improving innovations created by everyday engineers like you or me. Other examples of sustainable innovations that have gone from home-spun idea to commercial innovation are: Swytch Bike, the London-based company that’s turning drivers into cyclists by converting bikes into eBikes. The Swytch eBike conversion kit turns a regular bicycle into an electric bicycle. Converting existing bicycles into electric ones is more energy efficient than building an electric bike from scratch. By converting bikes into eBikes Swytch aims to contribute to a more sustainable transport system and in converting drivers into cyclists be part of the bigger picture of combatting climate change. MarinaTex is a home-compostable alternative to plastic that is made from fish processing waste and was created by product designer, Lucy Hughes in her kitchen. From bags to single use packaging, MarinaTex has a variety of applications. The transparent film is well suited for packaging and will biodegrade in a soil environment within six weeks. The organic formula does not leach harmful chemicals and can be consumed, causing no harm to wildlife or humans.
On National Engineering Day, the public will be asked to vote for their favourite idea or innovation from three finalists. The public will be asked to vote on Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) via a poll, and on Facebook by liking the appropriate post. The vote will open from 00:01 on 1 November 2023 and the winner will be announced later that day.
About The Royal Academy of Engineering
The Royal Academy of Engineering is harnessing the power of engineering to build a sustainable society and an inclusive economy that works for everyone. In collaboration with our Fellows and partners, we’re growing talent and developing skills for the future, driving innovation and building global partnerships, and influencing policy and engaging the public. Together we’re working to tackle the greatest challenges of our age.
What we do
TALENT & DIVERSITY We’re growing talent by training, supporting, mentoring and funding the most talented and creative researchers, innovators and leaders from across the engineering profession. We’re developing skills for the future by identifying the challenges of an ever-changing world and developing the skills and approaches we need to build a resilient and diverse engineering profession.
INNOVATION We’re driving innovation by investing in some of the country’s most creative and exciting engineering ideas and businesses. We’re building global partnerships that bring the world’s best engineers from industry, entrepreneurship and academia together to collaborate on creative innovations that address the greatest global challenges of our age.
POLICY & ENGAGEMENT We’re influencing policy through the National Engineering Policy Centre – providing independent expert support to policymakers on issues of importance. We’re engaging the public by opening their eyes to the wonders of engineering and inspiring young people to become the next generation of engineers.
About The Royal Academy of Engineering’s Enterprise Hub
The Enterprise Hub was formally launched in April 2013 and celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Over the last decade, we have supported more than 350 researchers, recent graduates and SME leaders to start up and scale up businesses that can give practical application to innovative engineering solutions. We’ve awarded over £11 million in grant funding, and our Hub Members have gone on to raise over £1.3 billion in additional funding, and create almost 6,000 jobs.
References
[1, 2] Figures use metrics from TikTok platform, August 2023.
[3] https://smk.co/new-report-tiktok-organic-engagement-now-12x-instagram/
[4] https://www.statista.com/statistics/1147635/distribution-of-tiktok-influencer-audience-by-age-and-gender-uk/[
5] Figures use metrics from Google Trends platform and GWI survey, August 2023
[6] Figures use metrics from GWI survey, August 2023