Lisneal student designs female workwear for Derry company
A student at a Waterside school has designed new Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) workwear for a Derry company.
Sophie Magee, from Lisneal College, designed workwear that was specifically tailored for women employed at Terex. The US-owned company is one of the NI's biggest manufacturing employers and has several sites here, including one in Campsie.
Terex invited five local schools, Thornhill, Lumen Christi, Limavady Grammar, Lisneal College, and Limavady High School, to take part in a competition to design new uniforms for the female workforce at their facility.
Students were presented with a challenge: design PPE that prioritises safety, comfort, and functionality while meeting a set budget. In preparation, the schools visited Terex Campsie for a factory tour, allowing them to gain a deeper understanding of Terex and its machinery and took part in a focus group with female fitters to better understand their needs.
On the designated day, each group presented their designs and reasoning to a judging panel comprised Terex Campsie’s management team.
While the level of detail and creativity demonstrated by the students made the task of selecting a winner a challenging one for the judges.
Sophie emerged as the winner, impressing the judges with her understanding of the issues faced by female workers and her dedication to finding a solution.
Both Sophie and Michael Allen, Principal of Lisneal College, were invited to Terex Campsie for the uniform reveal.
“Seeing my design produced and worn is a surreal experience, seeing it there in real life is just amazing,” said Sophie.
Michael Allen, Principal of Lisneal College said: “We are incredibly proud of Sophie. As a technology and design teacher myself, I know how big of a deal it is to get an idea from mind to paper and then into reality. I can’t thank Terex enough; they looked after Sophie so well and have given the school such a brilliant opportunity with this competition."
"We are incredibly proud of the collaboration between Terex and the talented students in the northwest,” added Leona McGee, Senior HR Advisor, Terex Campsie. "Working with our local schools helps us break the gender stereotypes around careers in manufacturing.
"By educating students about our industry, we can empower young girls to feel more confident in pursuing a career in manufacturing. Congratulations to Sophie – we hope the experience has inspired her as much as it has inspired us."
The competition has certainly stroked a chord with Sophie, who added: "My favourite subjects are technology and art so a career in manufacturing or engineering - maybe even at Terex - would be amazing when I'm older."