Delivered by GUH in partnership with educational charity The Smallpeice Trust, the one day challenge saw 10 teams of students aged 13–14 design, build, code, and operate model wheeled ROVs to address the issue of plastic pollution in the marine environment. Using Lego Spike kits, the pupils demonstrated strong technical skills, creativity, and teamwork before pitching their solutions to a panel of industry judges.
Throughout the event, students had the opportunity to meet Saab UK engineers and explore how science and engineering subjects are applied in real world underwater robotics, while gaining insight into future STEM career paths.
Saab UK congratulates St Oscar Romero Catholic School, which was named the winner of the South regional heat after impressing judges with its Tadpole ROV. The team will now go on to represent the region at the national final in Aberdeen.
Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director at Saab UK, said: “Watching the students take their ideas from the drawing board, turn them into working ROVs, and confidently explain how their designs could help protect the oceans was incredibly motivating. Doing this in the same environment where professional ROVs are engineered every day made the experience even more powerful, and you could really see their excitement and curiosity grow as the day progressed.”
Ricci Boston, Regional Director at Global Underwater Hub, said: “The GUH is extremely proud of our long running STEM Challenge campaign, a truly inspiring, technology led competition that also carries a powerful environmental message for young people.
“Every year, we are impressed by the creativity, knowledge, and capability shown by students taking part. It’s also a fantastic way to showcase the underwater sector, a vital part of the UK economy, while giving young people visibility of STEM careers they might otherwise never have encountered, and helping connect them to the exciting opportunities the industry offers across the country. We are always grateful to our generous member sponsors who enable this campaign to exist!”
The event took place at Saab UK’s center of excellence for underwater robotics, which officially opened in February 2025, supporting global offshore and subsea operations. Hosting the competition offered pupils rare insight into a working engineering environment and the people behind cutting edge underwater systems.
By hosting the GUH STEM Challenge South heat, Saab UK continues its commitment to supporting STEM education and inspiring the next generation of engineers.
