A COMPANY seeking to inspire the next generation of tech engineers via 3D printers and robots has been named as one of the most creative in the UK.

Maker Club was founded just two years ago with a mission to use technology to unlock the talent of young people.

It has now been named by Creative England as one of two companies in Brighton contributing towards an “entrepreneurial explosion” in the UK.

Brighton games development studio Pixel Blimp also appeared on the Creative England 50 list, which was presented at Google’s London headquarters by digital minister Ed Vaizey MP.

Maker Club, based in London Road, is developing the world’s first e-learning platform for 3D printing and the Internet of Things.

It works with disadvantaged children on practical users for 3D-printed robots, with youngsters dreaming up applications such as a feeding tool for people with Alzheimer’s and a ball thrower for dogs.

Simon Riley, chief executive of Maker Club, believes 3D printers will open up engineering to a whole generation, in the same way the internet has with information.

He said: “My belief is that in five to ten years’ time people will be able to tackle any invention they went, because the cost will have gone from prohibitively expensive to something you can do in your bedroom.

“Almost everything we have has been engineered. It’s all real world stuff. These skills are so integral. But people using this technology have no idea how it works.

“The maker movements is about showing people how things work.”

Maker Club will get a £50,000 loan from Creative England which will allow it to grow and franchise out its learning internationally.

Phil Jones, managing director of Wired Sussex, where Maker Club started out, said: “It is always great to see Brighton’s creative and digital businesses making waves. I was especially pleased to hear minister Ed Vaizey speak so positively about the calibre of new creative businesses on this coveted list and MakerClub and Pixel Blimp’s very well deserved places on it. Both companies are doing great stuff in new ways”

Hasan Bakhshi, director of creative economy at innovation charity Nesta, said: "We are witnessing an entrepreneurial explosion in the UK’s creative industries. Early findings suggest that the sector is generating more new businesses than the economy overall in almost every creative cluster we have analysed."