Hampshire County Council has introduced a scholarship scheme in collaboration with the Universities of Portsmouth and Southampton to support and develop the next generation of engineers.
Hampshire County Council is proudly the first local authority in England to join forces with the University of Southampton on the SUCCESS scholarship scheme, which provides an annual bursary, summer work placements, an industrial mentor and possible long-term employment after graduation.
The County Council is also working with the University of Portsmouth which has set up a new bursary scheme.
After regional applications, the latest intake of four students has been welcomed by the County Council’s Economy, Transport and Environment Department.
Hampshire County Council’s Executive Member for Environment and Transport, Councillor Rob Humby:
A warm welcome to, Kachinga, Mike and Adam to the County Council, and we look forward to helping them achieve their ambition of becoming chartered civil engineers.
The County Council is committed to identifying and nurturing young talent – giving them the vital foundations needed to obtain the skill sets and experience on which to build their careers. Through the programme, these students will look forward to receiving an annual bursary, summer work placements, industrial mentoring (from graduate trainees already on the County Council’s accredited Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) training scheme), and possible long-term employment when they graduate.
James Bragg is 22, and is in the third year of his Civil Engineering Masters at the University of Portsmouth. James explained:
I’ve already done one year in industry with a County Council, but I like the Hampshire area which is what appealed to me. When I found out about the bursary, I jumped at the chance.
I’ve also already completed a placement with the Highways team where I was able to go on several site visits as well as working on computer aided design drawings and feasibility studies which was really interesting.
A huge strength of the bursary scheme is the mentoring aspect which is available. Each individual is assigned their own mentor who is already well-advanced on the ICE training scheme with the County Council. Commenting on this unique offer, James said:
My mentor has already provided me with support for my dissertation on drainage, Him sharing his knowledge with me is a real bonus.
Kachinga Shamboko, 22, is the only female of the 2016-17 intake and is in the second year of her Masters in Civil Engineering at the University of Portsmouth. She explained:
Being sponsored is great, as it means there is a one-year placement as well as summer placements which gives us hands-on, valuable industry experience, every academic year. The mentoring aspect of the bursary is a good thing as our mentors are already applying the skills they have learnt and passing them on to us. Plus, I like the fact that I can already start ticking off some of the requirements for the ICE training as I go along.
Mike Ellis is 20 and is in the first year of his Civil Engineering Masters at the University of Portsmouth. Mike explained what appealed to him about the County Council scheme. He said:
I like that the scheme will give me guaranteed industry experience and potential job security and progression after graduation – that’s a huge positive. I’m looking forward to getting involved in project management. The mentors are young and easy to talk to which will be really helpful as we progress. Another great thing about the scheme is that we can work towards gaining our chartered engineering status, which means that we get the industry recognition.
Adam Hood is the youngest of the intake at 19, and is in the first year of his Civil Engineering Masters at the University of Southampton. He explained:
I applied for the bursary via the SUCCESS scholarship scheme which had been flagged to me at open days and during Freshers’ week. I then met with various sponsor organisations but I knew that when I met with the Hampshire County Council team, that it was a place I wanted to work. I’m looking forward to carrying out site visits and I’m especially interested in bridges and highways.
Previous to applying for the bursary, I completed two summer placements which were focussed on geotechnical (ground engineering) – looking at retaining walls and other aspects which I really enjoyed and stood me in good stead for applying for the bursary.
All four students are due to start their placements shortly. After graduating, the students may be offered long-term employment and the chance to join the County Council’s accredited ICE Graduate Trainee Scheme to enable them to attain professional membership level of the Institution of Civil Engineers.
Photo: Adam Hood is from the University of Southampton.James Bragg, Kachinga Shamboko and Mike Ellis are from the University of Portsmouth.
