The applicant
- Both engineers and non-engineers who work at engineering and technology SMEs based in the UK are welcome to apply.
- Applicants of any nationality are eligible as long as you have the right to work in the UK.
- Only one individual from a company can apply per round of the programme.
- The Academy is committed to diversity and welcomes nominations and applications from women and other groups who are currently under-represented across engineering, as well as recognising the full breadth of engineering.
The company
- Applicants from both pre and post revenue high growth SMEs are eligible to apply. Your associated company must have cumulatively raised at least £1million through either equity investment (from inception), turnover in the last financial year (excluding grants or consultancy), or a combination of both.
- Applicants from companies operating in the MedTech sector will also be considered eligible if they have raised at least £1million through grant funding and equity investment since inception.
- Applicants must come from a company based in the UK and registered with Companies House. For multinational companies, the Head Office must be based in the UK.
- Only applicants from SMEs who aren't wholly or majority owned by another company are eligible (SME as per the EU definition).
- We cannot accept applications from individuals in consultancies.
- Software companies must exhibit engineering as their core component and should be innovative and protectable.
The application
- Applications must be written and submitted by the intended recipient.
- We will award one individual from a particular company. One additional awardee associated with the same company will be considered in another application round if the candidate belongs to a group that is underrepresented within UK engineering. Please note this also includes those who were successful in gaining a place on the previously named SME Leaders programme.
Diversity & Talent
Groups that are persistently underrepresented in UK engineering are women, people from a Black, Asian or minority ethnic background and disabled people. If you are not from one of these groups, but believe you represent an underrepresented group in UK engineering, please contact the team to confirm that you meet the eligibility criteria.
This positive action will contribute to improving diversity in the talent pipeline and widening the diversity of applicants and awardees within the Academy’s grant schemes.
