Every two years the Rochester Bridge Trust welcomes a new batch of scholars to its engineering education initiative by inviting them to lunch at the Institution of Civil Engineers.
This is a great opportunity for our education team and engineers to meet the scholars and their parents, as well as catch up with those previously supported by the Trust: all recipients of Rochester Bridge Trust Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are invited to the lunch.
We met our first group of scholars in 2010, which meant the most recent lunch was very well attended and gave us the perfect opportunity to catch up with the progress of several generations at once.
Joshua Mudie
Joshua is now in his third year of PhD study at the University of Bristol and spends one day a week teaching in the Civil Engineering Department, where he recently won the Alumni Association Award for engagement with the Bristol alumni community. He has taken his research to Parliament via the STEM for Britain competition, and has been awarded second prize at the IStructE Young Researcher’s Conference. Joshua’s work has been shortlisted for a TRADA Timber Innovation Award.
Jessica Salisbury
Jessica is now a Site Engineer for Morgan Sindall Group after a five-year MEng in civil engineering at Cardiff University. She is working on a Transport for London (TFL) Infrastructure project in East London, regenerating Old Street Roundabout to make it more pedestrian and cycle friendly.
Helen Phillips
After successfully completing her MSc in civil engineering at the University of Bristol with a 2.1, Helen gained employment with structural engineering firm Form SD.
Helen’s role covers a range of projects differing in scale, including a number of basement developments in London, a small timber garden house and a 24-storey residential building in London. Using various software programmes, she creates 3D models of structures in order to analyse them.
Åsa Lofstedt
Hoping to move into structural design consulting, Åsa is in her in third year of a four-year course in civil and structural engineering at Newcastle University. She enjoys rowing alongside her studies and also coxes for the men’s rowing squad. Together, Åsa feels the coxing and her engineering studies have helped her hold her own in traditionally male-dominated environments.
Kai Smith
In his third year of study, Kai attends Durham University. With a particular affinity for the design aspects of his course, Kai has been designing a footbridge in County Durham.
Originally awarded an Arkwright Scholarship from the Dyer’s Company Charitable Trust, Kai had a special interest in bridges and so was gifted extra mentorship from the Rochester Bridge Trust.
Brecon Hoadley
Brecon successfully completed his A Levels and is now studying as a degree apprentice in engineering with the Ministry of Defence. This is a prestigious placement with a rigorous selection process, and we look forward to hearing about Brecon’s future achievements.
Silke Heyse
Silke was one of our 2016 scholars and has since successfully completed her A Levels. She now studies Product Design at Brunel University London, where she is enjoying the combination of academic and creative modules, varying from graphic design to electronics and maths.
Theo Macklin
Theo currently studies Engineering at Imperial College London and is enjoying his subjects of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. He is also involved with a project designing novel theoretical rocket engines.
Emily Rowe
A volunteer with the Trust for over a year, Emily often takes part in trips with the Scholars and her mother. In year 13 and studying for her A Levels, Emily’s parents are both engineers and she has been interested in engineering from a young age.
Freddy Bott
An Arkwright Scholar for another organisation, Freddy has become part of our enthusiastic engineering group. He has been joining in with engineering activities since 2016, including volunteering at events. Freddy is currently an A-level student at Rochester Independent College, where he says the small class sizes and relaxed garden area have helped with his studies.
The new intake
We have recently welcomed two new Bridge Warden Arkwright Scholars: Joe Igoe and Edward Francesconi. Both are working toward finishing their A levels – the Trust wishes them the best of luck and we are excited to hear how they progress on their way to becoming engineers.
While studying towards his A-levels, Josh Rolison will also be joining our engineering activities as his interests are in design engineering. We are pleased he is part of our team of budding young engineers.
Sue Threader, Bridge Clerk, said: “It is our duty, and our pleasure, to help encourage and educate the next generation of engineers. With each new scholar we are impressed with how they make the most of the opportunities we offer, and it is vital to the work of the Trust, and the future of engineering, to continue this kind of support.”