- 198 students took part in the largest South West Regional Final of the UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC)
- UTC Portsmouth (Day 1 Winners) and The Henrietta Barnett School (Day 2 Winners) have been crowned the South West regional champions
- Regional winners will now refine their rockets as they prepare for the National Finals in June
Chippenham (7 May 2026) – The South West Regional Final of the 2026 UK Youth Rocketry Challenge (UKROC) saw 40 teams from 27 schools and youth groups battle it out for a spot in the UKROC National Final.
The competition sees teams of students aged 11-18 design, build and launch a model rocket to an altitude of 750 feet, all while carrying a precious payload – a raw egg.
Hosted at Abbeyfield School in Chippenham, students from UTC Portsmouth and The Henrietta Barnett School will now advance on to the next stage of the competition where they will compete against fellow regional champions for the national title.
Running for over 20 years, the competition is organised by ADS, the trade association for the aerospace, defence, security, and space sectors and sponsored by industry partners Airbus, Frankenburg Technologies, and Saab UK.
Ed Raggett, ADS South West Director, said:
“Congratulations to all teams that participated. Initiatives like UKROC give young people the confidence to test ideas, solve problems and work as engineering teams — skills that are invaluable beyond the classroom. With global aviation demand rising and aircraft order backlogs growing, developing future interest in our sectors through STEM activities like UKROC is vital. The South West plays a key role in the UK’s aerospace and advanced manufacturing landscape, and it’s encouraging to see that enthusiasm reflected in local schools.”
Kata Escott, Managing Director at Airbus Defence and Space, and ADS VP for Space, commented:
“We are delighted to continue to support this competition. Airbus is committed to supporting initiatives that not only celebrate innovation but also inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. I am looking forward to seeing teams from across the UK progress to the National Final and the International Final at Farnborough International Airshow.”
Dan Hallett, UK Managing Director at Frankenburg Technologies, said:
“Specialising in rocket science, Frankenburg is extremely impressed with the hard work and dedication shown throughout the competition. The pipeline from UKROC into industry is essential, and by supporting the challenge we’re proud to help inspire and develop future engineering talent.”
Andy Fraser, Group Managing Director at Saab UK, commented:
“Saab UK is driven to support the next generation of defence and engineering talent, and we’re impressed by the drive and expertise demonstrated by the teams taking part in UKROC. Initiatives like this give young people across the UK the chance to push their abilities, build confidence in their skills and creativity, and take meaningful steps toward future careers in our industry. Their passion and potential are truly inspiring.”
Team ‘Project Iris’ from UTC Portsmouth and team ‘The Three Rocketeers’ from The Henrietta Barnett School will now refine their rockets before joining other regional champions for the National Final on 25 June in Buckminster.
The 2026 UKROC competition will see over 400 teams of schoolchildren from throughout the UK compete in nine regional events. The winners of the National final will go on to Farnborough International Airshow 2026 where they go rocket-to-rocket with teams from the United States, Japan and France to become the International Youth Rocketry Champions.
UTC Portsmouth (Day 1 Winners)
The Henrietta Barnett School (Day 2 Winners)
