Sheffield youngsters rewarded for forward-thinking tech ideas

Sheffield City Council handed out prizes to youngsters who nominated their forward-thinking ideas and products as part of the Code>Make>Win competition.

Maddie Jane Harding, aged nine, from Ecclesall Church of England Junior School, picked up the Best Animation Award for her ‘scratch cat on holiday’ animation, in which scratch cat travels the world taking selfies,

The prize for ‘Best Innovation’ went to Jack Underwood, aged 12, from Westfield School, for his app called Student Essentials that helps pupils to track their homework and includes a measurement convertor and translator.

Andrew Deniszczyc, aged 19, from Sheffield, who is studying at The University of Cambridge, took home a £100 entrepreneurial prize for creating Line Map, a website allowing anyone to create beautiful black and white map artwork of their chosen town or city.

Awards judge Aline Hayes, director of business change and information solutions at the council, said: “The awards event was the highlight of my week - fantastic to see so many kids and their parents engaged and interested in tech.”

Fellow judge Paul Hilton, director of Can Studios, said: “At Can Studios, we’ve recognised the value in home-grown skills through graduate schemes and flexible training.

“By supporting initiatives like the Code>Make>Win competition, Sheffield will reap the benefits of having increasingly talented young people coming into its workforce to help develop its thriving creative industry. I was truly impressed by the range and quality of submissions.“

Councillor Jackie Drayton, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “It’s was great to see so many exciting and innovative entries.”