Our support for automotive designers of the future

Pictured above: Siddarth Sangwan, Ben Kenward, Michael Quinn, Jonathan Connolly, Julian Leach, Giles Taylor, Jade Rivalland, Eric Wallbank, and Aaron Howell.

The judging has taken place for the long-standing Motor Centenary Bursary Award and the recently introduced Sir William Lyons Automotive Design Award, the latter generously funded by the Trust of the same name, courtesy of Liveryman Michael Quinn, grandson of Sir William.

Judging took place at the RCA in its new studios in Battersea, with a panel comprising the Master Julian Leach, Court Assistant Giles Taylor, Liveryman Ian Callum CBE, Liveryman Michael Quinn, Liveryman Jonathan Connolly, and Chairman of the Charity Committee Eric Wallbank.

We are pleased to announce that this year, the design bursary is to be split between the winner, Siddharth Sangwan, with a second award for Jade Rivalland. Ian Callum commented that Siddarth was one of the strongest candidates he has seen in recent years.

The Sir William Lyons Award went to Ben Kenward, currently studying Automotive design at Coventry University.

Following the judging and the announcement of the winners, the team of judges had an informal tour of the new design studios. On this visit we met with Jonathon Allen, the winner of last year’s Sir William Lyons Award. At that time, he was completing his Bachelor of Art Degree at Coventry University, but at the judging session he met one of the course tutors of the RCA Masters course, who had suggested the idea of a scholarship for Jonny to continue his studies at the RCA. It was a pleasure to meet Jonny again and to see that our award had resulted in an opportunity that was of real benefit to his education and future career. We also met last year’s Motor Centenary runner-up, Jan-Frederik Nieuhes, and one of the course tutors who was himself a recipient of the Motor Centenary Award a few years ago.

Congratulations to all the awards winners, who we hope will join us at the Automotive Dinner to receive their awards in person.