Impact

Since inception, the Trustees of the Engineers Trust have grouped its charitable objectives into the four broad categories of benevolence set out below. The Trust is assembling fuller narratives of the impact of its giving, which is far wider than simply the financial or reputational benefit to the awardees. The examples below provide some early insights into the impact we have made.

ENGINEERING WELLBEING and RELIEF of HARDSHIP

The principal awards in this category are:

  • The Innovation For All Award in conjunction with Tech4All
  • The Hawley Award for Engineering Innovation for Net Zero Carbon
  • The Mercia Award for postgraduate medical engineering
  • The Engineering Impact Grant

Hilary Pearce, Partnerships Manager of the Ghurka Welfare Trust, has told us about their Jhirubas Sirandhara Water Supply Project in Nepal (pictured above) and writes:

“Thanks to this funding, we have successfully delivered a transformative clean water system to 38 households, a school, two temples, and a community building—directly benefiting 172 individuals, including 141 students. The project has not only improved access to safe, reliable water but has also significantly enhanced hygiene, education, and livelihoods in this remote mountainous region.
Your support enabled the construction of:

 

  • 42 tapstands, including for public institutions
  • 4 reservoir tanks and 2 catchment dams
  • A new school toilet block with inclusive facilities
  • 4,756 meters of pipeline and 29 future extension points

Beyond infrastructure, this funding empowered women through leadership roles in the Water User and Sanitation Committee, reduced the burden of water collection, and improved school attendance—especially for girls. The project also laid the foundation for long-term sustainability through community training, inclusive governance, and a locally agreed maintenance system.”

Other examples of Impact from previous winners of the Engineering Impact Grant:

 

ENGINEERING EDUCATION and RESEARCH

The Trust has supported engineering education and research in schools, colleges and universities in civilian life and in HM Services principally through:

  • The Baroness Platt of Writtle Award
  • The Cadzow Smith Award
  • Engineering Launch Scholarships
  • The Leete Premium for Research in Advanced Manufacturing
  • Services Engineering Undergraduate and Postgraduate Awards

And previously

  • 15 years of supporting Arkwright Scholars
  • 28 years of The Gadsden Britain-Australia Student Exchange Award

Christopher Malagala (below) was a 2022-24 Arkwright Scholar. He said:

“The Engineers Trust sponsoring me through the Arkwright Scholarship had an immeasurable impact on my personal and academic development. Air Vice-Marshal Mark Hunt’s mentoring was superb – he gave thorough and quick responses to all my queries, signposting me to many useful resources. One example was a website through which I secured an engineering summer residential, which became one of the key themes on my personal statement. I also benefited greatly from the financial assistance of the Scholarship – I was able to purchase tools and materials to support the projects I completed during A-Levels. Without the assistance, I would not have been able to do this. In terms of my personal development, the Trust’s sponsorship helped cement my decision to pursue a career in engineering. I’m now a Student Member of the IET and studying MEng General Engineering. I was inspired to give back: during my Scholarship I mentored seven applicants in the year below me, and five were successful. All in all, the Arkwright Scholarship has had a profoundly beneficial influence on me, and I am extremely grateful.”

 Tom Moore, the MCW Programme Director at Hinkley Point, is a previous winner of the Baroness Platt of Writtle Award. Tom writes:

“I was awarded the Baroness Platt of Writtle Award in 2015 following successful completion of my Incorporated Engineer professional review with the ICE and being awarded the ICE Tony Chapman award. It was an honour and privilege to be recognised by the ICE and Worshipful Company of Engineers, which opened up a whole new network of people from inside and outside of the civil engineering industry. This wider network gives you options to call on people’s expertise if you need support or guidance. Over recent years I have been able to host people from the Company at the projects I have been involved in (Hinkley Point C and Crossrail) which has not only helped my professional development but has also allowed me to showcase the projects. This professional recognition has definitely supported my career and journey in the CivilEngineering industry, helping me progress to where I am today.“

Alexandra Keeler (below) won the same Award in 2022:

“To this day I am still incredibly proud to have been awarded the Baroness Platt of Writtle Award. The connections and opportunities I have been afforded as a result of this have had a significant impact on my career. It has led to a significant increase in confidence and improved visibility within my company, contributing to my successes including a promotion, an impactful mentoring opportunity, successfully completing the Women@Amey leadership programme and most recently being nominated for an internal Shadow Board. My network has also expanded and is far broader than before, leading to additional opportunities in the sphere of STEM and further connections and opportunities within the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.“

Alexandra Keeler

Molly Fraser, a senior software engineer, won an Engineering Horizons Bursary in 2020. In 2025 she was an after-dinner speaker at the Company’s Annual Banquet in Mansion House and delivered a universally admired speech advocating senior engineers to take time to mentor.

“So tonight, I have one simple ask: be generous with your knowledge. Mentor us, guide us, challenge us. Invite a younger engineer into the room where decisions happen. Ask us what we think — even if our answer starts with “I’m not sure.”

Pour your experience into us. Because one day, we’ll be the ones in your seats. And when that time comes, we’ll remember the engineers who took the time to teach, include, and inspire us — and we’ll do the same for those who come after.“

ENGINEERING for the BENEFIT of SOCIETY

The impact of our awards in this area is achieved mainly through personal recognition of those who have made significant advances, often overcoming significant challenges, earning the right to be role models to encourage future engineers. We hope these awards help instill in the recipients a lifetime’s commitment to the value of engineering and an ethos of giving something back in due course to encourage the next generation of engineering innovators for the benefit of society.

  • The MacRobert Award for Engineering
  • The Engineers Trust RAEng Young Engineers of the Year
  • The AWE Defence Industry Early Career Engineering Prize
  • The Water Engineering Award
  • Front Line Commands Officers and Rating/Soldier/Technician of the Year
  • HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Anson Awards

The Trust also recognises the importance of encouraging the next generation of engineers in schools and in-career mentoring as essential support skills for sustaining the future of engineering.

  • The Stephenson Award
  • The Phil Tindall Memorial Award in conjunction with Rochester Bridge Trust

LIVERY MOVEMENT RELATED CHARITABLE ACTIVITY

The Lord Mayor and City of London Livery Movement is supported through the Lord Mayor’s chosen Charity each year, the Mansion House Scholarships and specific initiatives close to the ethos of the City such as Ironbridge Gorge Trust, Treloar’s School, the Livery Climate Action Group, the City of London Engineering Hall of Fame (through an anonymous donor) and the Livery Food Initiative.

After a visit to Treloar’s School (a charity that provides outstanding education, therapy and care to physically disabled young people, and empowers them to live more independent and fulfilling lives), the Trust was delighted to donate £1780 for assistive technology in the form of a Print core nozzle for use with their 3D printer and materials for bespoke designs including a 3D printing filament. Treloar’s School will be providing the Trust in due course with an Impact Report of this donation.

The Company is a Founding Member of the Livery Climate Action Group through the pro-bono contribution of the time and talents of its members. Past Master Gordon Masterton is a member of the Executive group.