HELPING to develop a new system for detecting biological threats has won budding scientist Philip Jales a top industry award from the Engineering Employers' Federation.

The 19-year-old, from Hampshire, has spent the past year gaining work experience at Dstl Porton Down in Wiltshire as part of the Year in Industry scheme.

The scheme gives young people a taste of the engineering and manufacturing industry in a gap year between A levels and university.

Philip was one of the ten finalists in the regional Year in Industry Awards held at the EEF (Western) headquarters in Bristol.

He scooped the EEF Contribution to the Business Award after impressing the judges with his ten-minute presentation on the work he had carried out at Dstl.

That work included assessing a prototype of an unmanned, aerosol-base biological detection system, combining real-time detection with reduced logistical requirements over the existing system.

Philip developed software to process and visualise the prototype's data and he also led a study and wrote a report on a technique for automating biological threat detection.

Philip received a £500 prize and a framed certificate for his efforts from guest speaker John Davies, works manager at AstraZeneca's Avlon site near Bristol.

He will also go on to represent the region in the national final in London in September.

"The year has been very worthwhile and provided me with lots of opportunities," said Philip.

He will be studying physics at the University of Manchester from October.

Last year he gained A levels in maths, physics and general studies.

"Even the presentation for the award has given me the experience of standing up in front of a large group of people something that's very difficult to do," he said.

Virginia Foot, a research scientist and his mentor at Dstl, said: "The Year in Industry scheme is something that brings us huge benefits.

"Philip and the other students make a real contribution to the work we do."

Martin Bibey, EEF (Western) education and skills adviser and chairman of the judges for the awards, said: "What Philip, and all the students we met at the awards, displayed was an enthusiasm for manufacturing and engineering allied to a willingness to tackle complex challenges.

"It is those skills that the sector needs if Britain is to maintain its position at the forefront of industry in years to come," he said.

"Also, this year's participating students will have contributed nearly a quarter of a million pounds to businesses in the west as a result of the projects they have undertaken," Mr Bibey said.