Rebecca Young, an S2 pupil at Kelvinside Academy, created the innovative design as part of the UK Primary Engineer competition, where she triumphed over 70,000 other entrants to take the top prize of the MacRobert Commendation Medal, awarded via a public vote.

The Primary Engineer MacRobert Medal is a collaboration between The MacRobert Trust and Primary Engineer, with support from The WEIR Group PLC, and the awards highlight the culmination of the UK Leaders Award competition.

Rebecca’s creation – a heated blanket integrated into a backpack and powered by solar panels – was inspired by seeing people sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow. Rebecca was tasked with designing something to address a social issue and felt homelessness was a pressing problem she could help solve.

The talented youngster spent time researching existing products, such as sleeping bags and backpacks, to inform her design. Her efforts earned her the top spot in both the Scottish and UK-wide rounds of the competition.

Engineering firm Thales, which supports the Primary Engineer initiative, chose to develop a prototype based on Rebecca’s design. Their engineers produced a blanket that uses copper wiring for heating, flexible frames for portability, and solar panels for power. The first version of the prototype was brought to Kelvinside Academy’s Innovation School, where Rebecca was able to hold the tangible result of her idea.

Rebecca, from Glasgow, said: “To think something I’ve designed could one day help somebody on the streets is amazing.  

“Unfortunately, you see so many people sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow, and I always felt bad seeing how cold they were. It was obvious to me that this could help.

“It felt amazing to see my drawing turn into something real. I never thought that could happen. Homelessness is a big problem that needs fixing, and if you see a homeless person, help in any way you can.”

During the competition, Rebecca’s designs were showcased at events at Barony Hall, the University of Strathclyde, and the University of Glasgow, giving her a glimpse into the possibilities of a future career in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). Rebecca’s parents and younger sister, who attended the showcase events, said they were ‘immensely proud’ of her achievements.

While Rebecca is also a talented musician – she plays drums in a band called The Girls – she says the experience of seeing her design come to life has inspired her to consider a career in STEM.

Leigh Goldie, Rebecca’s teacher and design coach at Kelvinside Academy’s Innovation School, praised her achievement.

She said: “Rebecca’s success feels incredible. It’s so unusual to see this level of awareness and creativity at such a young age, and to apply that to a real-world issue is truly special.

“Rebecca’s story shows how creativity and compassion can lead to meaningful innovation, even at this stage of life. If she decides to pursue STEM further, who knows how far she could go?

“At Kelvinside Academy, we are committed to inspiring young minds through our Innovation School, empowering students like Rebecca to use their creativity to make an impact in the world. Rebecca’s work highlights how young people can contribute to addressing societal challenges through innovation, inspiring others to consider how they too can make a difference.”

Thales engineers hope the prototype will be developed further and potentially patented for production. The company’s involvement has given Rebecca a rare insight into the engineering process, sparking her interest in how ideas move from concept to reality.

Colin Scouller, head of engineering early careers, Thales UK, said: “Thales in the UK is proud to be national sponsors of Primary Engineer. Their mission to get more young people involved in STEM and inspire the next generation of engineers is something we truly value. We’re looking forward to continuing our partnership with Primary Engineer as it continues to grow.”