- Ruby Holmes, 19, from Derbyshire and Chloe Adams‑Pickford, 18, from Sheffield to each receive £1,000 per year and professional mentoring to support their path into engineering
- Currently women account for less than 10% of professional engineers in the UK
- The Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship highlights Jaguar Land Rover's commitment to increasing the number of female engineers in the UK and creating more diversity in the industry
- Due to its success, the scholarship has been extended this year to include young women entering engineering via the apprenticeship route as well as the graduate route into engineering
- WISE are now offering FREE membership to students and apprentices. Chloe and Ruby will become ambassadors ‑ sharing their story with other girls to inspire them to follow in their footsteps
Whitley, UK, 30 October 2014 ‑ The winners of the second year of the Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship have been announced as Ruby Holmes, 19, from Derbyshire and Chloe Adams‑Pickford, 18, from Sheffield. The Range Rover Evoque WISE scholarship is a funding programme that is encouraging young women to change the face of British engineering.
Selected by a panel of judges from over 100 entries, both Chloe and Ruby demonstrated an extraordinarily high level of passion and eagerness to take their first steps into the exciting world of engineering. Through a process of interviews and presentations, both young women exhibited the determination required to succeed in such a competitive field.
The scholarship will help Ruby through her Advanced Technical apprenticeship at Rolls‑Royce, with Chloe using it towards her Engineering Science degree at Oxford University. As well as receiving £1,000 each per year during their studies, Ruby and Chloe will be given practical support with mentoring from senior Jaguar Land Rover engineers and WISE representatives. Chloe will also receive invaluable work experience at Jaguar Land Rover, where she will be able to engage first hand in various aspects of automotive engineering.
Chloe commented: "Through this scholarship, I am confident that with the input from WISE and Jaguar Land Rover, I will gain some great experience and develop skills to help further my career. As a result of this opportunity, I hope to dedicate time in an ambassadorial capacity promoting more women into what is a thriving UK industry."
Jaguar Land Rover partnered with WISE to introduce the scholarship in order to inspire more young women to take up engineering as a career, increasing diversity in the industry. Currently women account for less than 10% of professional engineers in the UK Jaguar Land Rover is playing a strong role in supporting a change in how women and girls are encouraged to consider technology and engineering careers and the subject choices or vocational pathways that lead to them. The UK needs to get 1 million more women into science, technology, engineering and mathematics to reach "critical mass" of 30% of the UK workforce.
Nicci Cook, Jaguar Land Rover Senior HR Manager, Product Creation & Delivery, comments: "Last year we had an overwhelming response and we are delighted to have opened the scholarship again in 2014. Due to its success, the Scholarship has been extended this year to include young women entering engineering via the apprenticeship route as well as the graduate route into engineering. Since last year Jaguar Land Rover has seen a 2% increase in the intake of female graduates alone ‑ demonstrating the positive impact our women in engineering programmes are having on the careers of young female engineers.
"Through programmes such as the Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship, Jaguar Land Rover is looking to contribute to the national aspirations to double the number of women studying engineering and technology degrees at undergraduate level by 2030; boost the number of women pursuing careers in engineering and technology; and increase the number of young people studying STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) subjects at age 18."
Rolls‑Royce Advanced Technical apprentice Ruby Holmes, said: "I am honoured to be awarded the Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship. This will provide further support as I continue my apprenticeship. I am also excited to be working as an ambassador, encouraging more girls to choose amazing careers in engineering and technology."
Last year's scholarship winner Harriet Vickers spent a month at Jaguar Land Rover this summer: "To gain recognition from such an iconic brand that are at the forefront of engineering and design has improved my confidence and communication skills."
To register your interest in the Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarships 2015 please email info@wisecampaign.org.uk
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Editors Note:
For further information about the scholarships log onto: www.uk.media.landrover.com and http://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/about‑us/our‑projects/the‑range‑rover‑evoque‑wise‑scholarship or contact:
Sarah Shaw, WISE Communications Director
07545 208 530 or s.shaw@wisecampaign.org.uk
Nicci Cook, Senior HR Manager, Product Development
07880 096 740 or ncook1@jaguarlandrover.com
Chris Smith, The Brooklyn Brothers
07595 825191 or chrissmith@thebrooklynbrothers.com
Land Rover and WISE
Since 1948 Land Rover has been manufacturing authentic 4x4s that represent true breadth of capability across the model range. Defender, Freelander, Discovery, Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque each define the world's 4x4 sectors. Land Rover products are currently sold in approximately 180 global markets.
WISE is a classroom to boardroom campaign to increase the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The campaign inspires girls to study and build careers in science, technology and engineering. The social enterprise supports employers to ensure women do their best work and thrive.
Statistics http://www.wisecampaign.org.uk/about‑us/wise‑resources/uk‑statistics‑2014
Engineering professionals: 26,000 women (5.7%); 426,700 men
Engineering apprentices: 440 women (3%); 13,380 men
For more information, visit www.wisecampaign.org.uk
The Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship was launched by Zara Phillips and will provide a total of £15,000 in bursaries to female students who would like to explore a career or further studies in engineering. Due to its success, the Scholarship has been extended this year to support two young women and to include candidates entering engineering via the apprenticeship route. Each winner will receive £1000 a year during their studies. In addition the winners will be provided with mentoring support from both Jaguar Land Rover senior engineers and WISE representatives and they will become WISE ambassadors. In addition, the undergraduate Scholarship winner will be offered invaluable practical work experience with Jaguar Land Rover.
Photographs:
Available from the Land Rover newsroom: http://newsroom.jaguarlandrover.com/en‑gb/land‑rover/