The Nuclear Institute (NI) attended Arkwright Awards Ceremonies to present engineering scholarships to students who will be supported into higher education by the NI in partnership with Sellafield Ltd.
The Arkwright Scholarships Trust made its largest ever award this year of 410 sixth form scholarships, which were awarded at ceremonies in London and Glasgow.
The Nuclear Institute's scholarship, sponsored by Sellafield, will support nine students in the UK through their A Levels, in addition it will provide support for a further three students who are all interested in a possible career in the nuclear industry.
This is the first year the Nuclear Institute has supported the Arkwright Scholarships scheme and over the next two years the NI and its members will provide the students with mentoring and opportunities to find out more about nuclear energy and the UK nuclear industry.
NI Scholars at the awards ceremony in London: (pictured L to R) James Crocker, Rebecca Alden, Daniel Mironov, Benjamin Jones, Philip Percy and Chen Kai Chen, pictured with Rory O'Neill, Executive Director Sellafield Ltd, and Anna Wright, Operations Manager Nuclear Institute.
Mark Lyons, Trustee and Chair of the NI Education and Training Committee, said: "The NI and Sellafield are proud to support these students with Arkwright Scholarships as part of our education outreach activities into secondary education and to promote the nuclear industry as a career choice."
The Nuclear Institute presented each of the nine scholars with their awards at prestigious ceremonies in October supported by the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
Rory O'Neill, Executive Director at Sellafield Ltd, said: "Engineers made Britain great. At Sellafield today we have a mission that demands world-class solutions. It is the engineers of today and tomorrow that will provide those solutions. That is why we are delighted to join the NI in supporting the Arkwright Scholarships."
L to R: Mark Lyons, Nuclear Institute Trustee, pictured at the Glasgow ceremony with NI Scholars James Cowperthwaite, Alisha Kasam-Sharples and Thomas Wyllie, and Helen Fisher, Head of Socio-economics Sellafield Ltd.
Dr Martin Thomas, Chief Executive of the Arkwright Scholarships Trust, said: “Numerous learned reports have shown that the UK’s economic prosperity requires hundreds of thousands of new engineers and technical designers over the next few years. But we must recognise that numbers, alone, will not ensure our country’s future economic success. We also need some of these new engineers and designers to be modern-day Sir Richard Arkwrights or James Dysons – outstanding technical leaders able to guide their country to engineering success. Arkwright Engineering Scholarships help to develop this pipeline of top talent into the engineering profession.”
Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are highly regarded by universities and industry and are one of the most prestigious accolades that a talented sixth form student can achieve.
Scholars are selected for their potential as future engineering leaders by assessing their academic, practical and leadership skills in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). They are assessed through a rigorous selection process comprising: an assessed application form including a teacher’s supporting reference; a two-hour aptitude exam; and a university-based interview.
The Scholarships consist of an annual financial award to each Scholar and to his/her school, and a range of enrichment activities, such as mentoring and industry visits, that enhance a Scholar's experience of engineering and technical design in a real-world context.
The Nuclear Institute would like to thank our members who will be helping to mentor the Arkwright Scholars. If you would like to get involved in volunteering opportunities, please visit our page on Getting Involved, or see our list of Volunteering Positions