AN AWARDS trust set up to honour youngsters in engineering has given a collection of accolades and prize money to Longbridge based students.
The Herbert Austin Legacy Awards Trust (THALAT), set up by members of the Austin Ex Apprentices Association in 2022, recently awarded four engineering students from Longbridge’s South and City College campus on March 8.
All four students, Sophie Swinburn, 17, Muhammad Sharyar, 20, Arjun Kainth, 17 and Sivnan Hareesh, 18, were given £250 alongside their Excellence in Practical Engineering Skills Award.
Each award given aims to echo the mission of both the trust and famed automobile designer, Herbert Austin – championing youngsters who pursue careers in engineering and encouraging others to do the same.
Michael Sheehan, 91, co-founder and chairman of the trust, told the Standard: “It’s a warm feeling when we give these awards.
“Austin was always a proponent of apprentices, which is our core principle.
“Everything we take for granted relies on engineering. That’s our motivation.”
Alongside the practical skills award, the trust has also established an Excellence in Engineering Innovation Award. The first of which was given to a masters student from the University of Birmingham alongside £1,000 in prize money.
Since the trust was founded 18 months ago, they have amassed over 75 paying members, whose contributions fuel the financial prizes for young engineers.
The trust has also received generous donations including £5,000 from the Lord Austin Trust, and £1,000 each from other donors – one of whom is also an Austin ex-apprentice.
These donations, along with member contributions aim to help the trust award accolades and prize money to South and City College Longbridge students for the next three years.
Next steps for the trust include forming partnerships with other educational institutions to present more awards to existing students, while also encouraging school leavers to take up engineering.
Contact trust secretary, David Bower at [email protected] if you’re interested in becoming a member.
