To support our Year 12 Engineering learners, we collaborated with Perry Hazel, Ben Hiscott, and James from The Institution of Lighting Professionals (ILP), who led an exciting employer-engaged project that focused on key skills from Unit 9, such as CAD, 3D printing, and model making. This project went beyond coursework evidence—it gave learners a valuable opportunity to apply curriculum knowledge to real-world industry challenges, guided by leading professionals.
The ILP is the UK’s largest professional membership body for individuals and organisations in lighting design and engineering. With a mission to promote excellence in the art, science, and engineering of lighting, the ILP provides technical guidance, training, and resources to ensure lighting across the UK is safe, sustainable, and forward-thinking.
For this project, learners were tasked with designing and developing a street lighting solution, with a focus on the following key areas:
Social value & commercialisation
Light obtrusion and pollution
Material selection
EV infrastructure & manufacturing
Electrical solutions
Ben Hiscott delivered a comprehensive session exploring materials, machining processes, protective treatments, and safety standards—all of which directly supported the learners’ Unit 9 coursework. Following this, Perry, Ben, and James engaged directly with learner groups, providing expert feedback on design concepts, suggesting refinements, and offering strategies to improve manufacturability and product function.
Mark, Engineering Teacher, shared, “This wasn’t just a presentation—Perry, Ben, and James have worked alongside our learners throughout the project. Their input has supported idea generation and development, providing real context to the curriculum and helping learners gather meaningful, industry-aligned evidence for their coursework.”
The collaboration with the ILP has not only brought industry to the classroom but has also inspired learners to think critically, innovate, and understand the real impact of engineering design in modern society.
