School children have the chance to enter the dragons’ den and win top prizes by submitting their school science projects for the KM Bright Spark Awards.

The awards which aim to make science cool in school are open for entry until noon on Friday, June 5.

Projects eligible for entry require a team of pupils to use any of the following skills: maths, IT, science, electronics, and design and technology. The three competition categories are Innovation, Investigation and Invention.

Finalists will be invited to an exciting Dragons’ Den-style event where they will describe their creation to a panel of ‘dragons’ in a bid to win trophies and other prizes. The overall winners will receive £500.

Chantal Rozard of Betteridge and Milsom Ltd which is backing the event said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to support the KM Bright Spark Awards as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are a vital part of today’s economy.

“We work closely with schools throughout Kent and it is a great way to promote and encourage young people to take an interest in such important subjects.”

Pupils' projects - ranging from simple coding to building a solar car - can be nominated by the pupils themselves, parents, teachers or other members of school staff.

Bal Sandher, managing director of Hectic Lifestyles, another key partner of the initiative, said: “A Biomedical Sciences degree provided me with an excellent foundation for my career in a health sports and nutrition company, where strong scientific principles and innovation are at the heart of what we do.

“New generations of scientists are vital for the economic growth of Kent and the UK from both a research and development and business standpoint and that’s why I am supporting the KM Bright Spark Awards."

He added: “I wholeheartedly urge schools to encourage pupils to enter so that we can inspire a love for the subject from a young age through this novel, interactive and immensely fun experience.”

Also lending their support to the awards are the science faculty at the University of Kent, Kent and Medway STEM, Integrated Technologies Ltd and Discovery Park.

To enter, visit www.kmcharityteam.co.uk and click on the schools link or click HERE.

• To find out more about becoming a dragon at the event contact Simon Dolby on 07989 164 752 or sdolby@thekmgroup.co.uk.