Gifted apprentices win awards and scholarships

An Institution of Mechanical Engineers product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 16, 2005

Some of the UK's most gifted young engineering apprentices were honoured this week by the IMechE with historic Whitworth Scholarships and Awards for their proven commitment to the profession.

Some of the UK's most gifted young engineering apprentices were honoured this week by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) with historic Whitworth Scholarships and Awards for their proven commitment to the profession.

Skills Minister, Phil Hope, said the scheme (a legacy left by Victorian mechanical engineer Joseph Whitworth) is a "huge boost" for the engineering industry.

Awards of GBP 3500 are given to apprentices who are studying engineering degrees but earlier this year only a handful applied forcing the IMechE and Whitworth Society to extend the deadline in a bid to encourage more applicants.

Hope said: "Through this scheme the IMechE is giving the engineering profession a huge boost".

"Our country relies on innovation and the engineers that turn that innovation into reality".

"In partnership with industry, and groups like the IMechE, our national skills strategy will ensure we have the right people with the right qualifications to meet our skills priorities".

"The new engineering related vocational GCSEs and foundation degrees are creating pathways to higher education for all young people interested in engineering".

"Encouraging greater numbers of people to go into engineering and to take up apprenticeships is something the DfES is delighted to support", he added.

IMechE President, Andrew Ives, told Radio 4's In Business programme that the institution would be working more closely with schools in a bid to encourage more children to go into engineering.

He said: "The world can live without media studies - but it cannot live without engineering".

SEMTA (Science, Engineering, Manufacturing and Technology Alliance) is also a strong supporter of the awards.

Ian Carnell, Frameworks manager, said: "SEMTA has more advanced apprentices in engineering training than many other sectors and we view new entrants as crucial".

"This scheme is a great step in encouraging more young engineers into the profession and highlights the importance of apprenticeships in our society today".

Whitworth Society President, Steve Beck, became a Scholar in 1988.

He said the award must continue to be as inspirational as it was to him when he applied.

"I felt becoming a scholar would be an excellent benchmark and a real test of my abilities".

"Given the small number of awards for the whole UK I saw it as a real challenge and a great honour to achieve the award".

"Joseph Whitworth was one of this country's greatest engineers and his legacy lives on with these engineering apprentices".

"What we now have to realise is that while we do need to get more young people into engineering, fewer companies are offering apprenticeships".

"Part of our task, is to make sure people know about the award and we will be exploring routes to do that".

"We are glad the Government is supporting us".

This year there are 12 scholars and 9 award holders.

Awards are granted to young engineering apprentices embarking on an engineering degree.

Scholarships are granted to those that have completed both and are now working engineers.

The 2005 Whitworth Scholars for the 22nd ceremony have been announced as: Edward Caine of High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire; Karl Dean of Rowley Regis, West Midlands; Neil Eaton of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire; Antony Flynn of Cofton Hacket, Birmingham; Luke Fowler of Upton on Seven, Worcestershire; Steven Francis of Solihull, West Midlands; Caner Helvaci of Dunsmore, Coventry; Jennifer Jowett of Edgeley, Stockport; Paul Nelson of Souldern; Adam Ramage of Dundee; John Turley of Chingford, Essex; and Scott Witting of Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire.

The 2005 Whitworth Award Holders are: James Cannam of Wokingham, Berkshire; Garry Clawson of Lincoln, Lincolnshire; Claire Etherington of Lipson, Plymouth, Devon; Christian Millard of Yeovil, Somerset; Bernard Schrader of Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire; Andrew Somerville of Edinburgh; Jenny Tagallie of Glasgow; Emma Throup of Livesey Park, Blackburn; and Richard Whitaker of Jesmond, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

Sir Joseph Whitworth (1803-87) has been dubbed Britain's best ever mechanical engineer, world famous for the standard screw thread named after him, revolutionary machine tools and hexagonally rifled guns.

His legacy to encourage and support engineering apprentices began as an awards scheme dating back to 1868 with the aim of bringing science/engineering and industry closer together.

The society currently has 250 members from all engineering disciplines.