A COMPETITION aimed at encouraging youngsters to pursue careers in engineering and construction has been launched in the North-East.

The Wonder Challenge, in its eighth year, is a venture by the Sector Skills Council for the construction industry CITB-Construction Skills, Aimhigher Tees Valley and the Institution of Civil Engineers.

About 140 students from 11 schools, across five local authorities in the North-East, will spend the next six months working with expert mentors to develop eco-friendly building designs which they will then pitch to a panel of judges.

Tees Valley schools taking part include Redcar Community College, Acklam Grange School, in Middlesbrough, Huntcliff School and High Tunstall College of Science, in Hartlepool.

Mentor Charlie Thomas, a lecturer in construction, said: “Projects like this will help produce construction professionals of the future with strong environmental consciences, which can only be a good thing.”