<h1><strong>Burgess Hill businesses send Ardingly students off to the races</strong></h1>
Burgess Hill Business Park Association (<em>BHBPA</em>) members have come together to support Ardingly students’ bid to win the World Solar challenge in 2019.

<em>Time 24</em> and <em>Cirrus Laser</em> are helping pupils from Ardingly College to build a state-of-the-art solar-powered vehicle, in the hope that it will drive them to first place in the Australian solar competition in two years’ time.

Burgess Hill photographer Paul Noble became involved with the project this week, as he documented the students’ progress at the <em>Cirrus Laser</em> factory.

The pupils, who are as young as 13, have been building an ultra-design solar car for more than a year, working on designs in Science &amp; Technology classes before building their inventions on weekends.

Manufacturing specialists <a href="http://www.time24.com" target="_blank"><em>Time 24</em></a> have lent a helping hand with wiring and connections for the project, while <a href="http://cirruslaser.co.uk/" target="_blank"><em>Cirrus Laser</em></a> recently created the car’s trailing arms.

Dr Andrew Spiers, Director of Science &amp; Technology at Ardingly College, said: “I’ve been inspired by the openness and willingness of Burgess Hill businesses to help our young entrepreneurs. The pupils have had the opportunity to gain valuable, tangible hi-tech skills on this once-in-a-lifetime project.”

The competition marks the college’s second attempt at victory. In 2015, Time24 gave students unprecedented access to its specialist factory before they came sixth in the race.

Dr Spiers continued: “Working in the factory was incredible – on one side there were staff building next-level vehicle parts, and on the other there were our teenagers constructing the solar car! We’re so grateful to <em>Time24</em> and <em>Cirrus Laser </em>for helping the pupils to step out of the classroom and bring their invention to life.”

David Shore, Managing Director<strong> </strong>of <em>Time 24</em>, said: “This has been a marvellous project to be involved with. Watching these youngsters develop not only their engineering skills but, above all, their problem solving and emotional intelligence skills has been a pleasure to see.”

--end--                                                                                                                      6 April 2017

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