05/08/2026
“People who enjoy what they are doing invariably do it well.” – Joe Gibbs
Today we'd like to give a huge shout out to one of our Regional IT Leads, Ben Houghton 👏
For the second year in a row, Ben has been working with one of the schools he supports to run a five-week after-school Computing Club for Year 1 pupils. After being asked if we offered anything like this, Ben took the initiative to use our loan kit to introduce the children to VR and 3D printing.
"I was more than happy to provide," Ben said.
Over the five weeks, the children explored incredible places from around the world – and beyond! 🌍🚀 From diving under the sea to exploring volcanoes and even venturing into space, VR brought learning to life in an unforgettable way.
The students also designed their own creations before bringing them to life using Tinkercad and our 3D printers. Along the way, they learnt how 3D printers work and what they're capable of. By the end of the programme, each child had created their own personalised name tag and whistle keychain to attach to their school bag – combining creativity, practical learning and a fun keepsake to take home.
Ben said:
"I got into 3d printing from my elder brother and Technician Dan H, we both loved being able to 3d print whatever we could design to use in our work and personal lives.
Bringing an object from a film or game and then sharing that with my children is a personal joy.
With my own children enjoying 3d printers, I knew the kids at school would love being able to create something that is personal to them and then have it physically"
We're incredibly proud of Ben for sharing his passion for technology and inspiring the next generation through hands-on learning.
Here are just a couple of comments from the Computing Club students:
💬 "I liked the VR headsets. they were so much fun"
💬 "The 3D printer was my favourite thing because it was interesting"
Thank you, Ben, for making such a positive impact! 👏
