After a record number of applications, Five West Midlands-based students have been shortlisted as finalists in this year’s Millennium Point Trust Scholarship programme.
Hoping to secure our fully paid-for degree in partnership Birmingham City University (BCU) faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment, the shortlisted candidates will present on issues hindering the growth of the West Midlands in relation to their chosen subjects, to a panel of top industry judges and a captive audience during a live event at Millennium Point on March 27th.
The shortlisted candidates include Jerome Adrien, 19, from Birmingham, who has applied for Automotive Engineering; Laura Jane Avis, 17, from Redditch, who hopes to study Film Production Technology; Moses Mbikayi Mukendi, 17 from Coventry, who has chosen Computer Games Technology; Caitlin Cooper, 17, from Wolverhampton, who wants to study Computer Forensics; and Feargus Flanagan, 17, from Wolverhampton, who is looking to pursue Music Technology.
This year we’ve seen the highest number of applications for the scholarship to date, so shortlisting Jerome, Laura, Moses, Caitlin and Feargus was a really tough job. The sheer quality of applications, number of entrants and the variety of courses chosen really highlights the growing interest in STEM (science, engineering, engineering and mathematics) subjects and the Millennium Point Trust Scholarship itself.
The scholarship programme, now in its fifth year, is the flagship initiative from the Millennium Point Charitable Trust and is fully funded by the charity in partnership with Birmingham City University. In 2018 our charitable trust invested more than £4.8m in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives, based in the West Midlands.
We’ve received a record number of applications for our 2019 Millennium Point Trust Scholarship.
Now in it’s fifth year, our programme offers one lucky undergraduate in the West Midlands a fully paid-for degree, from a choice of courses at the faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment at Birmingham City University (BCU). Almost 100 people across the West Midlands applied, making it the highest entry level in the scholarship’s history.
The level of entries reinforces the notion that there’s a growing appetite in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) among the region’s young people, and those looking to reskill or upskill in STEM industries. 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, our scholarship is designed 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 due to their circumstances or background.
The scholarship is open to West Midlands-based applicants who will be aged 18+ and ready to start their degree by September 1st 2019, and 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 emerging talent to take their first steps or reskill into a STEM career and 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.
The scholarship is our charitable trust’s flagship initiative and is fully funded by the charity, which over the last five years has invested more than £4m in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives, based in the West Midlands.
The first scholarship winner (formerly the Young Innovator Prize), Malik Sheryar Karamt (above), graduated in July 2018 with first class honours in Mechanical Engineering.
Our shortlist will be announced on February 16th ahead of the live final, which takes place on 27th March 2019 in our PLATFORM and AUDITORIUM spaces at Millennium Point, Birmingham. Candidates will present to a top panel of industry judges and the live audience, before the lucky winner is announced.
See further details about Millennium Point Trust Scholarship, entry requirements and the application process.
We’re always looking to expand our programmes – whether you’re a business looking to get involved or someone interested in applying for 2020, please get in touch with our scholarship team.
In December 2018, we partnered with not-for-profit Ahead Partnership to introduce opportunities within the tech industry to female students from across Birmingham.
Taking place in our 350-seat AUDITORIUM and open-plan PLATFORM spaces inside Millennium Point, the event was attended by more than 130 students and 11 leading digital firms from the local area.
GirlTechBrum event is aimed at raising aspirations and helping young women aged 12 – 13 years old explore careers in the digital and tech sectors, through a series of interactive careers panels, workshops and guest speakers, supported by a range of businesses. The event allowed students to see first-hand what a career in digital involves, and it’s great to see a diverse range of businesses come together to challenge perceptions of tech and digital and help young women see their place in this fast-growing industry.
The event was funded by our charity, the Millennium Point Charitable Trust and supported by social enterprise Ahead Partnership. #GirlTechBrum is part of Ahead Partnership’s Make the Grade programme, which has supported more than 150,000 young people to date with real-life, hands-on experiences, delivered by local employers.
Over 130 pupils attended the event in our iconic building in the heart of Birmingham’s Eastside, with guest speeches from Melissa Snover, MD of the world’s first 3D sweet printer Magic Candy, and Faye Pressly, COO at technology solutions provider Vanti.
Students also participated in a range of workshops from Codemasters, Deutsche Bank, HSBC, Legal & General, InMoment, Lander Automotive and PwC, covering a range of topics including financial crime, UX and customer intelligence, before posing their own questions to a panel of female role models in STEM. 
The tech industry is already one of the most important for the UK, and is vital to the continued success of the region’s economy; which is why it is a key part of Metro Mayor Andy Street’s economic strategy. It’s important that businesses continue to support these initiatives, so we can reach further young people and continue to make a difference across Birmingham and the surrounding areas.
As a venue and destination dedicated to supporting STEM, we’re delighted to partner with organisations like Ahead Partnership on events such as this.
To find out more about the Millennium Point Charitable Trust, please visit our charity page.
With the deadline for applications fast approaching for the Millennium Point Scholarship; quality and passion are some of the words of advice offered by previous winners of the fully paid-for degree in partnership with Birmingham City University.
Now in its fifth year, our Scholarship awards one person in the West Midlands a free degree at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment – free of tuition fees.
Sagal Abdirahman, the 2017 winner of the Millennium Point Scholarship, talks about passion and preparation being key to securing the next scholarship spot. She commented:
“If I had one piece of advice I could offer to applicants of The Millennium Point Trust Scholarship, it would be to ensure that you complete thorough research on your topic of choice. Come prepared, as the more prepared you feel and the more passionate you are, the easier it will be for to speak about your chosen subject.”
Our 19-year-old winner wowed the panel of judges last year with her presentation ‘Cleaning the Planet’. Sagal is currently in her second year on a Civil Engineering course at Birmingham City University.
Ryan Dowell, has just started his sponsored course in Civil Engineering at BCU, having won last year’s scholarship. He has also completed a work experience programme at Laing O’Rourke / Murphy Joint Venture, two of Europe’s most prominent engineering and construction companies facilitated by Millennium Point.
Commenting on his experience, Ryan said: “It’s not just about the quality of your presentation when it comes to winning, but more so about your skills as a public speaker.
“Speaking confidently about your topic will carry you far both in the scholarship programme and in life afterwards. I was really nervous when I first got on stage, but once I got into my presentation it all came naturally.”
Applications are now open to all West Midlands-based students ready to start their degree in September 2019.
The application process consists of a few short questions encouraging why they should win the degree, followed by opportunities for those shortlisted, including presentation training, industry work placements and networking with STEM business leaders facilitated by Millennium Point. The scholarship will then be awarded during a live final event on 27th March where the candidates will present their project findings to an audience and panel of esteemed industry judges.
Not only does the scholarship provide the opportunity for a young person to take their first steps in their career helping address the current UK shortage of skilled workers in STEM industries, but it also reinforces The Millennium Point Charitable Trust’s objectives of supporting STEM projects having already invested more than £4.8m West Midlands-based, STEM-related initiatives.
Our Charitable Trust has announced donations of more than £4.8m to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) projects across the West Midlands in 2018.
All of the commercial activity that takes place in our landmark building, whether it’s running an event or leasing workspace, feeds back into our charity. This enables us to donate and invest in STEM-related organisations, projects and initiatives that benefit Birmingham and the wider region.
This has included more than £281,000 to fund four projects by Birmingham Museums Trust including Year of the Engineer 2018 and a Science and Heritage Career Ladder Legacy; working with Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and The Built Environment to offer a free undergraduate degree through the Millennium Point Scholarship, now in its fifth year.
We’re immensely proud of the quality and breadth of STEM-related projects that the Millennium Point Charitable Trust has been able to support. The Trust has made a significant difference in the region and, particularly with projects such as our scholarship, it’s encouraging to see young people taking a real interest in STEM as a future career.
We opened in 2001 as the largest landmark millennium project in England, outside of London. Inside, we’re home to several unique event spaces including a 350-capacity auditorium, flexible workspaces, meeting rooms and offices, and largest tenants ThinkTank and Birmingham City University (BCU).
You can find out more about our services and spaces by visiting our venue section and more about our charitable work in our charity section of the website.
Wait, Millennium Point is a charity?
We are! Profits from our commercial activity as a property owner, events venue and office space are used by the Millennium Point Trust to fund initiatives, which support science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), and education in the region. Awesome, no?
- The Millennium Point Scholarship is funding over £24,000 in degree fees of four students Malik, Abi, Sagal and Ryan at Birmingham City University’s Faculty of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment. Providing funds that otherwise would not have made university possible. Additionally, Ryan has just completed work experience at LMJV and Abi at ARUP through our Scholarship Programme.
- £5,000 worth of learning materials for Holywell Primary School in Rubery, including advanced Lego equipment that will allow the school to further enhance its current STEM learning provision
- More than £281,000 to fund four projects by Birmingham Museums Trust including Year of the Engineer 2018 and a Science and Heritage Career Ladder Legacy, as well as directly benefiting students from deprived areas in their visits to Thinktank through covering entry and transport costs.
- Over £21,000 to allow for the procurement of machinery, installation and materials relating to robots and a 3D printer at Bishop Vesey Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield. This will allow students to gain experience and improve their knowledge and skills in design, analysis and operation of advanced technology
- £5,000 to fund Monster Confidence 2018, a one-day event organised by job finding portal Monster and renowned STEM organization STEMettes. This free event invites girls aged 15+ to a full day of workshops, seminars, speed networking, keynotes and panel discussions designed to support and inspire them to pursue STEM careers.
- Donated our spaces to the return of HacktheMidlands 3.0, an all-inclusive Hack-a-thon that offers a safe, inclusive space for people of all backgrounds and skill levels.
HacktheMidlands 3.0 will return this November to Millennium Point - Offer hundreds of pounds in reductions to STEM organisations who book our event spaces.
For more information on this year’s awards please see our initial announcement, to know more about how our charitable arm works please visit our grants page or and for updates and news from our charity please sign up to our mailing list.
