Young Engineers’ Awards*
Background
In order to raise the awareness of Engineering as a career opportunity amongst young people in Furness, the Barrow and District Association of Engineers runs an annual bursary awards scheme known as “The Young Engineers’ Awards”.
The Association itself and a number of companies sponsor this. It is of concern to the Barrow and District Association of Engineers, and to many others also, that so few young people are entering the engineering profession. It is in an effort to reverse this trend that the Association instituted this award at the instigation of a former BDAE President, Mr Tony Peak, in 1998.
The Barrow and District Association of Engineers Awards supported the Governments initiative to encourage students to study STEM subjects. [Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths]
All awards are presented under the strap line “Helping Tomorrow’s Engineers Today”.
The awards are supported with the help of the generous sponsorship from organisations on our Sponsors page.
Student Bursary Awards
Student Bursaries started in 1998 and are awarded to students at Barrow Sixth Form College, Ulverston Victoria High School and Millom School, on the basis of their results in AS level examinations in Science and Technology subjects taken at the end of their first year of sixth form studies, together with their enthusiasm for engineering activities.
A student winner from each institution is nominated by his or her teachers, these nominations are ratified by a BDAE Bursary Committee which, in addition, selects an overall winner on the basis of information provided by the school.
Craft and Technical Apprentice Bursary Award
In 2000, following various discussions and having achieved a suitable level of sponsorship, the student bursary was extended into the area of the Engineering Apprenticeships in the Furness area with an award to be known as the BDAE Apprentice Bursary.
The apprentice award is based initially upon academic qualification and performance in first year studies together with enthusiasm for engineering and practical ability. The Association placed emphasis on the academic as it wishes to encourage apprentices and show that the traditional university route is not the only way to a degree, a high-flying career and a position of leadership in the industry.
Nominations of apprentices are made from the local, Small and Medium size Enterprises (SMEs), but also include nomination from amongst all Furness College apprentice students.
Nominations for the Craft and Technical Apprentices are made by Furness College and forwarded to the Barrow and District Association of Engineers.
STEM Prizes to Secondary Schools
In 2012 it was agreed to make awards to year 11 students based on their performance in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths) subjects at each of the secondary schools in the area. This was extended by 2017 to years 7, 8, 9 and 10 The students are chosen by the school staff on the achievements in STEM subjects and their interest and enthusiasm in engineering.
The schools involved are Ulverston Victoria High School, Walney School, Dowdales School, St Bernard’s School, Furness Academy, Coniston School, Millom School, Cartmel School and Chetwynde School.
In 2018 a competition for Secondary Schools was initiated called the “Engineering Design Technology Competition” to highlight the excellent practical work, supported by the appropriate engineering theory, undertaken in their year 10.
All submissions are reviewed by the Bursary Committee and are presented at the November Bursary Awards and Lecture Evening.
A bursary of £750, is awarded to the winning school with a runner-up receiving £250 for the development of their facilities.
STEM Prizes to Primary Schools
Having awarded engineering prizes for Secondary School students, for over 20 years, BDAE recognised that inspiring young children, in Primary Schools, can have a long-term impact on career choices. Year 6 STEM Prize were introduced in local schools with support from Furness Education and Skills Partnership (FESP).
Students are nominated by their school, based on their involvement in STEM subjects and interests in engineering.
Parents/guardians are formally invited by the BDAE to a Celebration Evening at which the opportunities offered by a career in engineering are explained, including a guess speaker, and student are presented with a Certificate and Bursary.
To encourage Primary Schools to develop further their STEM activities a separate competition offers a cash prize of £500.00.
Schools were asked for a to submit a two-page statement on how they would use £500 to enhance their STEM activities.
In 2021 two prizes of £500 were made and because of the success of this initiative and the excellent work undertaken by Primary Schools four prizes of £500 were awards in 2022.
