A nationwide search is being launched today to find the next generation of engineering stars in the UK. The ‘Future of Engineering’ competition is being run by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Entrepreneur First, and aims to discover and promote the best of the UK’s up and coming leaders in engineering.
With a focus on emerging talent, the competition is open to student engineers, PhD candidates and junior engineers working in the industry (applicants do not necessarily have to be reading an engineering-related subject). To enter, all applicants need to do is visit the Future of Engineering microsite here, and submit information about their background. They’ll then be asked to provide information on what they hope to achieve in the engineering field and how they plan on using their knowledge and skills to create a product or business that will have a profound and positive global impact.
The winner will receive a cash prize of £10,000 to put towards the development of their business or idea, while the runner up will receive £5,000. In addition to the prize money, both finalists will be given mentoring and advice from some of the most senior and widely respected members of the UK’s engineering community to fast track their ideas from concept to reality.
The closing date for the competition is 31 March 2017. Once all the applications are in and the competition is closed, they will be narrowed down to a shortlist of 10 by the panel and will be invited to take part in a tailored workshop on how to develop their ideas. Led by Suranga Chandratillake FREng, General Partner of Balderton Capital, and Wendy Tan White, General Partner, Entrepreneur First, the panel will also include Eric Yeatman, Head of Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Imperial College London and Elspeth Finch, Founder of Indigo & and Enterprise Hub Mentor.
The competition will culminate in early spring 2017 with a closing ceremony taking place in London at the Royal Academy of Engineering. The event will include keynote speeches and pitching, and all of the shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend the gala reception in the evening with their friends and family, where the two finalists - the overall competition winner and the runner up - will be announced.
The Academy has also created a guide to help young entrepreneurs understand the process of taking an idea through from concept to the beginning of a business, which has been produced in partnership with Entrepreneur First and Beauhurst, who provide an overview of business funding opportunities.
Entrepreneur First invests in technically talented individuals pre-team, pre-idea and creates startups from scratch. Since 2011 it has worked with 450 individuals to build over 100 startups that are now valued in excess of $500m. Creating this competition was a natural evolution in terms of looking to tap into the next generation of UK talent.
“The UK is home to an exceptional pool of engineering talent with real leadership potential,” said Zoe Jervier, Global Head of Talent, Entrepreneur First. “Our aim through this programme is to stretch the aspirations of individuals already demonstrating engineering excellence and who want to make a much larger impact through technology".
The Enterprise Hub at the Royal Academy of Engineering harnesses the expertise, insight and networks of Academy Fellows, who include some of the UK’s most successful entrepreneurs and business leaders, to support the country’s most promising entrepreneurs in all areas of engineering and in all parts of the UK.
Commenting on the competition Suranga Chandratillake, General Partner of Balderton Capital, Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and recipient of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Silver Medal in 2012 said, “The UK’s heritage as an engineering nation is well documented, and we believe that there are plenty of young, aspiring engineers throughout the country who have the ability to continue this long and proud tradition. Through the 'Future of Engineering' competition, we will discover inspirational and innovative young people, whose ideas have the potential to make the world a better place.”
For more information about the Future of Engineering competition or to submit your entry, please visit here.