The Joint Education Awards Scheme

Five Hallam University engineering students and two managers from the steel industry were presented with grants totalling £4,500 at the annual Joint Education Awards ceremony at the Cutlers’ Hall recently.

The event is the result of the longstanding partnership between the Cutlers’ Company and the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers in the City of London. It was first held in 1924 and is sponsored by both Companies to encourage young people to discover improved production methods for their various companies and learn about working methods elsewhere, particularly through travel.

In welcoming the prize winners, their guests and mentors, the Master Cutler, Ken Cooke, said: “Although the Joint Education Awards scheme has changed over the years we are still here today giving young people to opportunity to broaden their horizons and evaluate their own personal objectives.

“These awards recognise the value of education and how people can progress if we invest in them.”
Engineering students Georgia Belcher, Liam Vernau, Daniel Proctor, Fiona McNaught and Torran Hockley were all awarded £500 travel grants. Thomas Bloomfield of Metlase Ltd and Adam Bell of Liberty Steel each received £1,000 Pontifex travel prizes for young managers.

The Master of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers, Julian Beare, and Professor Nasser Sherkat, Head of the Engineering and Mathematics Department at Hallam University were among the invited guests.

The Professor said: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to add my congratulations to the award recipients. I am very impressed by the quality of the candidates and their clear desire to expand their horizons both for their own benefit and development and that of their employers. This is very welcome as the city continues the process of reinventing itself as a regional and national centre of innovation, advanced skills and high economic growth.

“I am also very pleased to be able to thank personally the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers and the Company of Cutlers for their greatly valued support and generosity in making these awards.”

Pictured are the Master Cutler, Ken Cooke, and the Master of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers, Julian Beare, with Dr Malcom Denman from the Department of Engineering at the University of Hallam, and award winners Fiona McNaught, Torran Hockley, Thomas Bloomfield and Adam Bell

Pictured are the Master Cutler, Ken Cooke, and the Master of the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers, Julian Beare