Promethean Brings World's Fastest Car to Maidenhead

BLACKBURN, England, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Promethean, the interactive learning technology provider, organised a rare opportunity for pupils from Maidenhead and Reading to see a life size replica of the Bloodhound Supersonic Car. They were also able to meet and question Richard Noble OBE about the Bloodhound project, and its attempts to set a new World Land Speed Record and exceed the 1,000mph milestone for the first time.

The event was organised by Promethean to mark the official opening of its new offices in Maidenhead. The company is the Bloodhound project's official interactive education technology partner and aimed to create a genuinely exciting educational opportunity in the area to mark the occasion.  

Promethean's President of European Sales and Marketing, Paul Berry, commented: "Through our partnership with Bloodhound, we are working to give young people access to inspiring content, resources and tools to help engage them in STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) subjects that will improve their life chances. This is an ideal way to give pupils a day to remember, and set them thinking about the exceptional things that can be achieved through science and technology."

Pupils representing Wessex Primary in Cox Green, Maidenhead; Cranbourne Primary in Winkfield; Emmbrook in Wokingham; Ranelagh in Bracknell; and Maiden Erlegh in Earley had the chance to see the 13.4m long Bloodhound replica and take part in interactive sessions involving rocket power, distance, time and speed using Promethean classroom technologies.

Building of the actual Bloodhound car is underway in Bristol. Powered by both a rocket and a jet engine, it has been designed to achieve speeds of up to 1,050mph, and is expected to become the world's fastest car when it makes a new attempt on the World Land Speed Record in South Africa in 2012.

Along the way, the team behind the project also hope to foster a lifelong interest in science, technology, engineering and maths in young people and help develop a pipeline of talent for the future.

Richard Noble, Bloodhound project director and former World Land Speed Record holder, attended the launch, answering pupils' questions about the engineering adventure he is leading. He said: "Seeing young people's reactions to the car and watching them become engrossed in the science behind it is what the project is all about. The nation faces a real shortage of engineering talent and we need to do something about it."

Also at the event was Jan Kershaw, STEM Brokerage Manager at the University of Reading. She was enthusiastic about the impact of the day saying: "Events like today provide a great opportunity for people working in STEM fields to inspire the future workforce."

Promethean's new 8,000 sq ft offices at Clarion House, Norreys Drive, opened on 1st August 2010, providing the Blackburn-headquartered company with a new base in the south of England. Over 25 people now work out of the Maidenhead offices, and Promethean plans to create a total of 100 jobs over the next three years.

About Promethean

Promethean - Lighting the flame of learning

The market for interactive learning technology is fast growing and global. In this market, Promethean is a world leader.  Developed for teachers, Promethean's ActivClassroom brings together its interactive whiteboards systems (ActivBoard), its learner response systems (ActiVote and ActivExpression), and its suite of specialised teaching software (ActivInspire). They change how teachers and classes engage and interact, how students learn and how they are monitored and assessed.

Beyond the classroom, Promethean provides comprehensive training and support and, with over 700,000 members, the rapidly growing Promethean Planet is the world's largest online teacher community for users of interactive display system technology, providing user-generated and premium content, and is a forum for teachers to exchange ideas and experience.

SOURCE Promethean