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Ford Aerospace Sponsors Young Inventor’s Ocean-Inspired Idea, Bringing “Puffy Coat” to Life

Craig Bright

A thoughtful and imaginative invention by a seven-year-old from South Shields is set to become a real-world prototype thanks to the support of Ford Aerospace, a South Tyneside–based engineering company sponsoring one of the winning ideas from Little Inventors’ Making Waves: Inventing for a Better Ocean challenge.

The Making Waves challenge, delivered in partnership with South Tyneside Council and Dogger Bank Wind Farm, invited children to respond creatively to ocean-themed briefs. From hundreds of submissions, four outstanding ideas were selected to be brought to life as physical prototypes.

One of those winning ideas is Puffy Coat, invented by Lillie, aged 7, from Ashley Primary School in South Shields. Developed in response to the Key Stage 1 brief to invent something inspired by life under the sea, Puffy Coat is a garment designed for humans to wear when they are feeling afraid or under threat.

Inspired by the puffer fish, which inflates itself to protect against predators, Lillie used principles of biomimicry to imagine a coat that can “puff up” to help the wearer feel safer, braver and more confident. The idea stood out for its emotional intelligence, creativity and thoughtful observation of the natural world.

Oliver and Tom at Osbit

Thanks to sponsorship from Ford Aerospace, Lillie’s idea will now be developed into a prototype in collaboration with creative fabrication specialists Orbital FX, working closely with Lillie to ensure her original vision remains at the heart of the final design. As part of the experience of winning the challenge, Lillie will also have the opportunity to visit Ford Aerospace, giving her a behind-the-scenes look at what the company does and how ideas are turned into real-world engineering solutions.

The finished prototype will be unveiled as part of a public exhibition at The Word in South Shields in 2027.

Lillie said:

I picked the puffer fish because I've loved puffer fishes since I was a little baby - and I've been wanting a puffer fish but my mam said they are too spikey so we can't have it in the house. The coat has spikes to it can protect you if anything scary is around - and if you are scared you can puff it out like a puffer fish.

Ford Aerospace’s sponsorship reflects a shared commitment to supporting young people, creativity and future-focused thinking within South Tyneside. By backing Puffy Coat, the company is helping turn a child’s idea into a tangible outcome that celebrates both imagination and innovation.

Leanne Hume, HR Manager at Ford Aerospace, said:

We’re absolutely delighted to support the Making Waves challenge and help bring Lillie’s idea to life. It is a fantastic project which encourages imagination and creative thinking. As a local business, we are committed to supporting the next generation and are very much looking forward to seeing all the ideas progress.

The partnership has also been welcomed by South Tyneside Council, which sees collaboration with local employers as a key way to raise aspirations and connect learning with real-world opportunity.

Alex Whelan, Economic Inclusion and Career Development Coordinator at South Tyneside Council, said:

We’re incredibly grateful to Ford Aerospace for sponsoring this winning idea and for investing in young people here in South Tyneside. Support from local businesses is vital in helping us raise aspirations, connect learning with real-world opportunities, and show children that their ideas are valued. This kind of collaboration makes a genuine difference.

Craig Bright, General Manager of Little Inventors, added:

Puffy Coat is a brilliant example of how children naturally think like designers and innovators. Lillie observed the world around her, learned from nature, and applied that thinking to help people. Support from Ford Aerospace allows that journey to go further - from idea, to experience, to something real.

Puffy Coat will be developed alongside three other winning ideas from the Making Waves challenge, all of which will be brought to life and showcased publicly - celebrating children’s creativity, biomimicry and the power of local collaboration.