The Smallpeice Trust has been delivering inspiring engineering experiences for decades, igniting curiosity, confidence, and ambition in young people across the UK. Central to this impact is the Arkwright Engineering Scholarships, set up to identify, inspire, and nurture high-potential young people aged 16–18 as they prepare to leave school and progress into the exciting world of engineering, computing, or technical design.
The scholarships help young people to pursue their dreams of changing the world through a combination of mentoring, funding, and real-world exposure during the two-year programme. They provide a powerful way to demonstrate individual achievements when applying to university or for a degree apprenticeship.
The Arkwright Scholarship team said: “Receiving the Rooke Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering is a tremendous honour and recognition of The Smallpeice Trust's 60-year mission to inspire young people into STEM.
“It is particularly meaningful as it highlights the impact of our Arkwright programme, an initiative dedicated to connecting young people with the engineering industry and, just as importantly, with each other. By fostering these early relationships and opening pathways into engineering, we are helping to build a more diverse, and future-ready STEM community. This award belongs to everyone involved in making that vision a reality, and it inspires us to continue expanding opportunities for the next generation.”
John Armstrong, an engineer and CEO at British Pipeline Agency who nominated Helen, Lisa, and Georgina for the award, said: “This team has been pivotal in modernising and scaling the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, engaging with more than 1,300 schools nationwide. By embracing digital innovation and inclusive delivery models, they have ensured the programme remains rigorous, relevant and accessible, while preserving the prestige and quality that define the award. Together, Georgina, Lisa and Helen have transformed and expanded the Arkwright Scholarship into a modern, nationally recognised flagship, surpassing every expectation.”
Numerous alumni progress into senior engineering roles across industry and academia, with many later achieving national recognition for leadership and professional impact.
One of the Arkwright alumni said: “As a recipient of the scholarship myself and through the mentorship and guidance received by the programme, I started to develop my own network and have since gone on to work in Formula One, to Transport Decarbonisation. I then led the Digital Strategy for a UK PLC and now run a tech company that helps charities supporting young people to scale their impact and use data and tech for good.”
The Rooke Award celebrates individuals who have made a significant contribution to the public promotion of engineering. The Arkwright Scholarship team join a distinguished list of past recipients who have helped shape the public’s understanding of engineering’s role in society. They will receive the award – named after the late industrial leader Sir Denis Rooke – at the Academy Awards Dinner in London on 8 July.
Arkwright Scholarships awards event
Notes for editors
- The Rooke Award for the public promotion of engineering is awarded to an individual, small team or organisation who have contributed to the Academy's aims and work through their initiative in promoting engineering to the public. The award is named in honour of the late Sir Denis Rooke OM CBE FRS FREng, a former President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and one of the UK's most distinguished engineers, who actively supported public outreach in engineering. As Chairman of British Gas, his legacy was to build the UK's gas distribution network and unite the gas industry, making domestic gas a cheap and convenient fuel source for millions of people. He later became Chancellor of Loughborough University and served on many national advisory committees on both energy policy and education.
- Annual Awards Dinner 2026. This year’s Royal Academy of Engineering Awards Dinner takes place on 8 July. The event will also celebrate the winners of other awards and prizes including the Princess Royal Silver Medals and the MacRobert Award for UK engineering innovation.
- The Royal Academy of Engineering creates and leads a community of outstanding experts and innovators to engineer better lives. As a charity and a Fellowship, we deliver public benefit from excellence in engineering and technology and convene leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics across engineering and technology. As a National Academy, we provide leadership for engineering and technology, and independent, expert advice to policymakers in the UK and beyond. Our work is enabled by funding from the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, corporate and university partners, charitable trusts and foundations, and individual donors.