The aim of the initiative, announced earlier this year, is to increase the level of expertise in UK timber engineering, with the long-term goal of boosting the use and range of applications of timber and wood products in construction and the wider market (TTJ 4/11 May).
Companies and industry bodies backing the scholarship project pledge to cover the student’s annual tuition fees of £3,750 and can additionally help pay their living costs.
At the last report, the scheme had attracted seven supporters, now another five have signed up and one more is close to making a decision, pending board approval.
The new backers are the UK Timber Frame Association, Oregon Timber Frame, Norbord, and Kingspan Timber Solutions (KTS), part of the Kingspan Potton Group.
"It is extremely encouraging that we’ve now got this level of support," said Geoff Rhodes, chair of ENU’s Forest Products Research Institute advisory board and the chief ambassador to the industry of the scholarship initiative. "Our initial target for year one was 10-15 scholarships. But if we can now get to 20, that would be great!"
KTS commercial director Tony Hutchison said the company found the scheme "compelling".
"It very much fits with the highly trained Kingspan culture," he said. "We will work closely with the student, and as well as benefit them, hope this will also give us some new insight into new areas such as cross laminated timber ."
Oregon Timber Frame managing director Robin Dodyk was also looking for benefits from the initiative, both for his own company from working with the student, and the wider industry.
"It’s saying to engineers, there’s a job after university and it doesn’t have to be concrete!" he said.
The other scholarship funders to date are Accsys Technologies, Arnold Laver, BSW Timber Group, James Jones & Sons, James Latham plc, SEMA4c, and the Timber Trade Federation.
