The Rochester Bridge Trust’s latest Bridge Wardens’ Engineering Scholar, Helen Phillips from Bromley, is closer to her dream career after embarking on the first year of a four-year Civil Engineering degree course at Bristol University. The Trust identifies suitable candidates to support through the national charity, the Arkwright Scholarships Trust.
Helen, 18, a former student at Bromley High School, has already put the scholarship to good use.
“My teachers at Bromley High School knew I had ambitions to be a civil engineer and encouraged me to take the Arkwright Test, which I did and which I passed,” said Helen. “I was referred to the Rochester Bridge Trust, which kindly agreed to sponsor me. They have been very supportive and the scholarship has really helped to give me an insight into engineering.”
Support included paying for travel to University taster days, the opportunity for work experience and time spent with London Gateway and National Grid engineers, which Helen said confirmed her ambition to embark on an engineering degree.
“I have only just started my course, so I am keeping my options open as to which branch of engineering to follow,” said Helen. “I really like the design side, but I also enjoy maths, so I am not going to make a choice of which route to follow just yet.”
Arkwright Engineering Scholarships are backed by leading engineering businesses and organisations across the UK and are awarded to high-calibre students completing the selection process.
Sue Threader, Bridge Clerk for Rochester Bridge Trust, said: “The Trust is committed to encouraging young people with the potential to become the engineers of the future. It is a superb and rewarding profession, which contributes so much to everyone’s quality of life and the growth of our economy.
“Supporting Helen through her studies and enabling her to find out more about engineering has been a great pleasure and we wish her every success at university and in her career.
“Helen is following in the footsteps of our two previous Bridge Wardens’ Scholars, both of whom are now studying civil engineering at university. Two new scholarships will be awarded later this month.”
Notes:
1. The Rochester Bridge Trust was founded in 1399 and is the only surviving independent bridge trust serving its original purpose. The Trust owns and maintains the road and service bridges over the Medway at Rochester and has contributed to the cost of many other Medway crossings over the centuries. It makes charitable grants and supports other charitable and educational projects in Kent.
2. The Trust’s income derives from 14th and 15th century endowments, and assets are carefully managed to provide funds for bridge maintenance and future replacement as well as charitable activities. It provides its services entirely free to the public. The Trust receives no external funding and is regulated by the Charity Commission.
For more information:
For further media information, please contact Philip Jones or Andy Rayfield, at Maxim, tel: 01892 513033
For further information about Arkwright Scholarships, go to www.arkwright.org.uk
The Rochester Bridge Trust
5 Esplanade
Rochester
Kent ME1 1QE
Tel: 01634 846706
Fax: 01634 840125