STEM education charity the Smallpiece Trust is calling for school and student applications for the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship programme 2021.
Designed to inspire a love for engineering and arm the nation’s young talent with the skills needed to succeed, the scholarship supports 16-year-old students with a full two-year sponsorship to gain hands-on experience, professional mentorship and careers guidance across a range of specialisms – from aerospace to automotive engineering.
Empowering those with a passion for STEM – and engineering in particular – will help to steer the nation’s recovery from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, yet current statistics demonstrate an annual shortfall of around 60,000 professional engineers.
Experts say that misconceptions surrounding what it means to be an engineer and a lack of industry opportunities are preventing young people – especially girls and students from disadvantaged backgrounds – from engaging with the discipline.
As such, the Smallpiece Trust has worked alongside some of the nation’s leading names in engineering – including the likes of Rolls Royce, the RAF and Network Rail – to close the engineering skills gap through the provision of real-world learning experiences, from getting up close to a Typhoon Jet to working on national solar energy and electrical power projects.
In other news: Institution of Mechanical Engineers contributes STEM resources to BBC Bitesize
Other benefits for successful applicants include:
- A £600 financial bonus to put towards technical or curriculum-based projects, to purchase equipment or to fund additional courses
- Mentoring from industry experts, who provide practical advice and guidance, as well as further studies and careers development
- Networking opportunities at exclusive events run by partner companies, universities and trade associations
- Nationally-recognised scholarship certification to supplement university and apprenticeship applications
Applicants must use the online application process to show off their enthusiasm and engineering knowledge, with successful candidates landing an interview at one of the UK’s leading universities. Participating schools also receive a £400 donation to fund STEM-based events and resources.
Kevin Stenson, CEO of the Smallpiece Trust, commented: “We’re thrilled to open 2021 applications for the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship programme and support the next generation of engineering leaders. As COVID-19 has demonstrated, the engineering industry holds the key to solving some of our biggest social, environmental and economic challenges. It’s essential that we inspire and support young people from all backgrounds to discover the real world of engineering and achieve their full potential.”
The Arkwright Engineering Scholarship is open to all Year 11 students in England and Wales, S4 students in Scotland and Year 12 students in Northern Ireland. If you or your school would like to apply, please click here.