High Tunstall School’s Tunny Girls Group has been crowned winner of this year’s Design & Build Challenge held at Hartlepool College of Further Education.
The competition, a partnership between Carney Consultancy, a leading provider of health and safety services, and Hartlepool College since 2018, gives students from across the North East the chance to showcase their creativity, teamwork and technical skills.
This year, students from High Tunstall School, Dyke House School and English Martyrs School, all in Hartlepool, alongside Easington Community School near Peterlee, competed in the hands-on construction and design challenge.
For the ninth year, the event welcomed NAWIC North East and Tees Valley, giving Year 9 girls the opportunity to meet women shaping the future of construction and gain insight into careers in the industry.
Participants were tasked with designing and building a model school or college using Lego. Teams had 75 minutes to construct their design and 50 minutes to present it, including cost calculations, a layout plan and explanations of sustainability features. Designs were judged on creativity, practicality, sustainability, energy efficiency, the use of open space and inclusion of at least one fun room. The challenge combines design thinking with teamwork, budgeting and problem-solving, reflecting real construction industry demands.
Tunny Girls received a £200 prize donated by Carney Consultancy, with judges praising their innovative design, careful planning, creativity, teamwork and adherence to the brief. They also highlighted the team’s clear and engaging presentation and the high quality of their model.
Based in North Tyneside, Carney Consultancy provides a full range of health and safety services, including risk assessments, method statements, site audits, training, compliance support and advisory services. The company works across construction, facilities management and corporate environments, helping businesses maintain compliance and improve safety standards.
Carney Consultancy has collaborated with Hartlepool College on several initiatives, including the Future Female Leaders programme, which celebrates women in construction, the Golden Hammer Awards, spotlighting skilled joiners and the Building Your Future programme, giving students hands-on construction experience. John Cartwright, head of business growth and skills at the college, works directly with Carney Consultancy to deliver the Design & Build Challenge and has long supported these initiatives.
This year’s event also featured former participant Amelia Ward, who returned as a mentor. Having first attended the Design & Build Challenge as a school pupil in 2019, she completed a HNC in Building Studies at Hartlepool College and now works as a site manager with HMH Civils. Her return allowed her to guide students through the design process, share her career experience and show how Hartlepool College can support young people to develop skills and qualifications needed to succeed in construction.
John Cartwright, said: “The Design & Build Challenge is a fantastic way to show students the wide range of career opportunities in construction and the built environment. It’s important for Hartlepool College to provide the skills, knowledge and practical experience they need to succeed in construction and other hands-on careers.”
Angela Carney, managing director of Carney Consultancy, said: “We are incredibly proud of this year’s challenge. The creativity, teamwork and commitment shown by all students has been inspiring. I would like to congratulate every team that took part and especially High Tunstall School on their well-deserved win. Hartlepool College has been a fantastic partner, and John’s support ensures these initiatives continue to give young people the confidence and skills to succeed in a sector that urgently needs them.”
