An inventor, who has designed products in use across the world, encouraged hundreds of Yorkshire children to solve problems and innovate during a two-day event.
Ben Edmonds balances his time working as principal engineer at Dyson with inspiring the next generation of inventors through his company, InnovationBen.
During a visit to Bradford Grammar School (BGS), as part of one of its regular outreach events, enthusiastic children at the junior school and other Yorkshire schools took part in a design innovation challenge hosted by Ben. He then led innovation workshops for BGS’s GCSE students, before giving a public lecture in the evening to explore the future of engineering design and innovation.
The dad-of-three, who has worked on one of Dyson’s smallest ever vacuum cleaners as well as several leading air purification products, set up InnovationBen after enjoying a visit to his daughters’ school in 2017. Throughout the pandemic, his online Inventors Club and free STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) challenges were taken up by people across the world.
Today, he has reduced his hours at Dyson to focus on InnovationBen and inspire school children to creatively think and innovate.
Ben, who lives in North Wiltshire, said: “I’ve realised that what I love almost as much as being an inventor myself is helping others to develop confidence in their own capacity to creatively solve problems and innovate.
“I believe there’s a creative genius inside everyone. I love being able to equip people with new ways of thinking and give them the tools and skills to get their ideas out into the world.
“It was fantastic to see so much enthusiasm and the great ideas coming from the children at Bradford Grammar.”
BGS Headmaster, Dr Simon Hinchliffe, said: “We were delighted to see that so many children from other schools in Yorkshire could join us in enjoying Ben’s interactive workshops. I’m sure he will have inspired many of them to consider taking up careers as inventors and innovators.”
The schools that took part in the innovation workshop included:
- Lindley Junior School, Huddersfield
- Richmond House School, Leeds
- Moorfield School, Ilkley
- The Gleddings Preparatory School, Halifax
- The Froebelian School, Horsforth
- Westville House School, Ilkley
“I believe there’s a creative genius inside everyone. I love being able to equip people with new ways of thinking and give them the tools and skills to get their ideas out into the world.”
Be Social!