The scholarship, which is open to West Midlands-based applicants who will be aged 18+ and ready to start their degree by September 1st 2019, reinforces Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s objectives of supporting science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects, organisations and initiatives across the West Midlands. It provides the opportunity for a young person to take their first steps in their career in STEM.

The scholarship also aims to address the current UK shortfall of 173,000 skilled workers in STEM industries, by encouraging young people to consider further education in STEM on a regional level.

With a huge number of courses available, spanning from computer science to digital marketing, music technology to construction, computer forensics to automotive engineering and everything in between, Millennium Point is looking for individuals who want to take the next step in their STEM career but may need a helping hand, or perhaps had previously discounted university as an option.

Now in its fifth year, the scholarship is the flagship initiative from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust, and is fully funded by the charity, which over the last five years has invested more than £4 million in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives, based in the West Midlands.

The first scholarship winner, Malik Sheryar Karamt, graduated in July 2018 with a first class honours in Mechanical Engineering. He commented: “Taking part in the Millennium Point Scholarship was so rewarding – from working with a mentor to presenting to a live audience.

“I’d always planned on starting an apprenticeship after leaving school, but the scholarship opened up the door to studying at university which I wouldn’t have had. I’m lucky enough to have had the opportunity to go to a fantastic university, and, with my debt-free degree, I don’t have to worry about paying back a very large loan for the rest of my adult working life.”

The 2016 and 2017 winners, Abigail Lavercombe and Sagal Abdirahman, continue to thrive at BCU, with the latest winner, Ryan Dowell, joining the new cohort of BCU freshers this month. Abbie, Sagal and Ryan are all studying Civil Engineering.

Scholarship hopefuls can submit their application by answering a few short questions and detailing why they should win the free degree in any format they choose, along with supporting documents, such as their UCAS statement.

Shortlisted students are then provided with presentation skills training and support from third party organisations, meet ups with the other candidates, as well as work placement opportunities and networking with STEM business leaders and professionals, all facilitated by Millennium Point.

At the live final, which takes place on 27th March 2019 in the Platform and Auditorium spaces at Millennium Point, candidates will present to a top panel of industry judges and the live audience, before the winner is announced.

Rebecca Delmore, Commercial Director of Millennium Point (pictured) said: “We couldn’t be prouder to be in our fifth year of the Millennium Point Scholarship programme, and to be continuing to invest back into the region through supporting young people, and in our small way breaking down barriers into education and ultimately into STEM-related careers.

“We hope to continue to provide this opportunity not only to our future winners but provide valuable skills, experiences and connections to the wider shortlist.”

Denis Ramplin, Director of Marketing & Communications for The Schools of King Edward VI in Birmingham added: “Initiatives like this are a great demonstration of how businesses can invest in the younger talent in the city. Our schools all promote STEM subjects as career opportunities for our pupils and we are especially keen to promote engineering to our young women as a career to pursue”.