Supporting the Next Generation: Icom UK Visits Sheffield University

As friends of the Amateur radio community, we at Icom UK want to encourage the next generation of operators and ensure a bright future for the hobby. To support this goal, our Amateur Radio Specialist, Chris Colclough (G1VDP) recently visited Sheffield University to deliver an IC-7100 Transceiver to the radio club on behalf of Icom UK. While there, he spent time with the students for a special club night, witnessing first-hand the impressive ingenuity of these future engineers and radio enthusiasts.

“Back in October 2025 at the RSGB Convention, a young man named Leon Shaw (M0VUF) approached me at the Icom UK stand and we got talking about his radio club at Sheffield University. As a student and the driving force behind the club, Leon’s passion for bringing the hobby to a younger generation was something I knew Icom UK would want to support. Following a discussion about the club’s potential with our Managing Director Bob Stockley, Icom UK was pleased to donate a brand-new IC-7100 HF/VHF/UHF Transceiver and a visit was scheduled for me to present the radio and meet the group.

A special club night was held on 4th March where I officially presented the IC-7100 on behalf of Icom UK and explored the students' latest projects. Located within the university’s electrical & mechanical engineering department, the club benefits from an impressive array of professional tools, test equipment and technical support. With three members of the club currently licensed, many others are working toward their qualifications alongside their engineering studies.

During my visit, the students held a practical workshop constructing 70cm band antennas using wire, wood and bamboo skewers. Guided by Leon’s technical documentation, the group began building several designs, including a 5-element Yagi using 20mm dowel and a 4 - diamond reflector array from wire, skewers and a reflector. To further challenge their skills, I also asked the students to construct a Rhombic antenna - a complex design rarely seen in modern Amateur setups.

Thanks to the 70cm band’s compact frequencies, these antennas can be easily constructed and tested on-site using the university’s Vector Network Analyser (VNA). Although the builds were still in progress when I left, Leon has promised to share images of the finished designs with me and I look forward to returning soon to see the antennas in action.

I would like to thank the Sheffield University for agreeing to the visit and also thank the students for their enthusiasm and welcoming me into their fold. They are the future of the hobby and I can see some bright stars within their ranks - not only in amateur radio across all STEM industries.”

- Chris Colclough (G1VDP)

If you would like more information on our amateur radio products, visit our Amateur Radio Page.

Icom UK Sales - sales@icomuk.co.uk