ICE CityZen offers two exciting competitions for young people: the ICE CityZen Award (16-18 years) and the ICE CityZen Pollution Control Challenge (14-16 years).[1] Through a unique combination of digital gaming and creative project work, students tackle real-world civil engineering challenges.
The competition consists of a 4-round digital game and a creative project where students pitch ideas for improving their local environment using civil engineering solutions. The competition has received multiple accolades, including the 2024 Memcom Excellence Awards for Best Education Initiative and the 2024 Bett Awards for Secondary Free Digital Content. Winners can receive up to £2,000 in cash prizes (split between students and school)[2], plus exclusive opportunities like a VIP three-course meal with the ICE president. The competition helps students develop crucial skills in teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving while providing insights into STEM careers. Special prizes are also available from competition partners including the JBA Trust (£500 prize) and Loud Speaker (free workshop).
Teams must be registered by a teacher or school representative, and students must be attending full-time education in a UK school or college. The competition provides comprehensive support materials including teacher guides, student guides, and classroom resources to help participants succeed.
The ICE CityZen Award challenges students aged 16-18 to become virtual civil engineers and design bold, inclusive, and sustainable solutions for the communities of tomorrow. The competition is in two parts – the four-round CityZen Award computer game and an optional project.
ice.org.uk blocks automated requests; text checked on the Wayback Machine copy of 21 July 2026. The page also says: "This shorter ICE CityZen challenge invites students aged 14-16".
Get a certificate of participation plus be in with the chance to win up to £2,000 (shared between team members and school) and a VIP lunch with ICE’s President!
Checked on the Wayback Machine copy of 21 July 2026.
ICE’s two CityZen competitions feature our unique and award-winning digital challenges and are free to enter – with great prizes too! They take place in the autumn term and can be completed flexibly to fit into your schools’ extra-curricular time.
ice.org.uk blocks automated checks; quoted from the archive.
Checked 14 October 2026
Details checked by the Born to Engineer editorial team. Always confirm dates on the provider’s site before applying.
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Runs in the autumn term; check this year's registration dates on the ICE website[3]
A free national tech-for-good competition and innovation programme. Students, alone or in teams of up to four, come up with a tech idea in one of three categories: Smarter Sport, Greener Future or Safer Online. Semi-finalists get mentoring and prototype funding before a national final in London.
Worth
Mentoring, work experience with Samsung, Samsung tech and a place on the Piccadilly Circus screen
Who
Students aged 11 to 18 at secondary schools and colleges across the UK and Ireland, alone or in teams of up to four
Deadline
Entries close on 18 January 2027; national final on 29 and 30 April 2027
The week’s engineering news, deadlines worth knowing and a guide to help you take the next step.
Each issue rounds up the engineering stories worth reading, the apprenticeships, courses, competitions and work experience with deadlines coming up, and a short guide to one route into the industry. It’s written for students, parents and carers, and teachers.
