AN exciting STEM Lego regional tournament is taking place in Yate next year. 

The competition hosted by appliance manufacturer Hotpoint is due to bring up to 70 primary school pupils from across the area together on March 7, 2024. 

Organised by the Institute of Engineering and Technology, the event encourages young people from around the world to design and build LEGO autonomous robots. 

It also invites children to come up with creative ways to present their hobbies and interests to a panel of industry judges. 

Pupils’ coding abilities will be challenged when their programmed robot creations take on specially designed ‘missions’. 

Teams will also have to use their creativity, problem-solving and teamwork skills as they work to solve any issues that may arise during the tournament. 

This year's theme is Masterpiece, which will see participating teams take on the challenge to come up with innovative new ways to communicate art across the world to audiences. 

The tournament will take place at the Hotpoint Factory in Yate.

Teams will compete for the chance to progress to the national finals later in the year. 

Eight primary schools in South Gloucestershire are being sponsored by Hotpoint. 

This includes Yate schools: Abbotswood Primary, North Road Community Primary and St Paul's Catholic Primary.

As well as Elm Park Primary School in Winterbourne, Alexander Hosea in Wickwar. 

Meanwhile, Stanbridge Primary and Frenchay Primary are also taking part. 

Ian Moverley from Hotpoint said: “Hosting the FIRST® LEGO League regional tournaments is one of the highlights of the year for us and we can’t wait to see how the teams learn and progress this season. 

“This is the third year we’ve sponsored the event; we know just how much the challenge inspires children and encourages them into STEM careers and we delight in being able to support local pupils on that journey.

“Once again we’ll be hosting the tournament at our Yate Factory, where our staff can get involved and play an active role in their community – something we all enjoy doing.”

If you know a school, learning provider, or coding group of pupils aged 9 to 11 that could be interested in taking part, visit tinyurl.com/43463578

To find out about sponsored places for this year’s event or enquire about next year’s season please email elle.roberts-nissen@consciouscomms.com.