A SCHOLARSHIP scheme has been launched by Hampshire County Council in collaboration with the universities of Portsmouth and Southampton to support and develop the next generation of chartered civil engineers.

Hampshire County Council is the first local authority in England to join forces with the University of Southampton on the ‘Success’ scholarship scheme, which provides an annual bursary, summer work placements, an industrial mentor, and possible long-term employment after graduation.

The county council is also working with the University of Portsmouth which has set up a new bursary scheme.

After regional applications, the latest intake has been welcomed.

Rob Humby, the authority’s executive member for environment and transport, said: “A warm welcome to Kachinga, Mike and Adam to the county council. We look forward to helping them achieve their ambition of becoming chartered civil engineers.

“The county council is committed to identifying and nurturing young talent, giving them the vital foundations needed to obtain the skill sets and experience on which to build their careers. Through the programme, these students will look forward to receiving an annual bursary, summer work placements, industrial mentoring (from graduate trainees already on the county council’s accredited Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) training scheme), and possible long-term employment when they graduate.”

James Bragg, 22, is in the third year of his civil engineering masters at the University of Portsmouth. He said: “I’ve already done one year in industry with a county council, but I like the Hampshire area which is what appealed to me. When I found out about the bursary, I jumped at the chance.

“I’ve also already completed a placement with the highways team where I was able to go on several site visits as well as working on computer-aided design drawings and feasibility studies.”

A huge strength of the bursary scheme is the mentoring aspect which is available. Each individual is assigned their own mentor who is already well-advanced on the ICE training scheme.

Kachinga Shamboko, 22, is the only female of the 2016-17 intake and is in the second year of her masters in civil engineering at the University of Portsmouth.

She said: “Being sponsored is great, as it means there is a one-year placement as well as summer placements which gives us hands-on, valuable industry experience, every academic year.

“Plus, I like the fact that I can already start ticking off some of the requirements for the ICE training as I go along.”

Mike Ellis, 20, is in the first year of his civil engineering masters at the University of Portsmouth.

He said: “I like that the scheme will give me guaranteed industry experience and potential job security and progression after graduation, that’s a huge positive. Another great thing about the scheme is that we can work toward gaining our chartered engineering status, which means that we get the industry recognition.”

Adam Hood is the youngest of the intake at 19 and is in the first year of his civil engineering masters at the University of Southampton.

He said: “I applied for the bursary via the Success scholarship scheme which had been flagged to me at open days and during freshers’ week. I then met with various sponsor organisations but I knew that when I met with the Hampshire County Council team that it was a place I wanted to work. I’m looking forward to carrying out site visits and I’m especially interested in bridges and highways.”