The Worshipful Company Of Engineers Charitable Trust Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £100,000 (in favorable years)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Varies by programme
• Grant Range: £1,000 - £20,000
• Geographic Focus: UK-based (with some international delivery permitted)
• Total Assets: £1.8M+ (accumulated since 1983)

Contact Details

Address: Saddlers' House, 44 Gutter Lane, London, EC2V 6BR

Phone: 0207 726 4830

Email: clerk@engineerscompany.org.uk

Website: www.engineerstrust.org.uk (redirects to www.engineerscompany.org.uk/charitable-activities/)

Programme-Specific Contacts:

• Innovation For All Award: innovation4all.award@engineerscompany.org.uk
• Engineering Impact Award: outreach.grant@engineerscompany.org.uk
• AWE Defence Industry Prize: Defence-Engineering-Award@awe.co.uk

Overview

The Engineers Trust is the charitable arm of the Worshipful Company of Engineers, a City of London Livery Company incorporated by Royal Charter in 2004. Registered as charity number 289819, the Trust has been delivering its charitable objectives for over 40 years. Since the Company's formation in 1983, the Trust has accumulated over £1.8 million in assets and distributes up to £100,000 annually in engineering-related benevolence through 25 awards and prizes. The Trust's income derives from investment returns and generous donations from Company members, enhanced by corporate sponsorship. The Trust focuses on acknowledging excellence in engineering, supporting engineering education and research, providing grants to charitable organizations with engineering ethos, and—in exceptional circumstances—assisting Company members and their dependents experiencing hardship. Awards are presented annually at a prestigious London venue during the Livery dinner held in June or July.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Innovation For All Award (Annual, Deadline: March 1)

• Amount: £20,000 cash award; substantial discretionary runners-up prizes available
• Focus: Engineering-based solutions for poverty alleviation addressing health, mobility, social exclusion, education, financial barriers, or location-based challenges
• Application: Open to independent applicants or recognized organizations with transparent financial controls
• Requirements: Evidence-based challenge identification, measurable benefit demonstration, business plan with sustainability model

Engineering Impact Award (formerly Engineering Outreach Grant) (Annual, Deadline: October 20 for expression of interest)

• Amount: £5,000
• Focus: Engineering projects contributing to poverty relief worldwide
• Eligibility: UK registered charities only; delivery can be worldwide
• Recent Recipients: Just A Drop (Zambia borehole rehabilitation, 2023), Build It International (Zambia school sanitation, 2025), Gurkha Welfare Trust (Nepal water supply project)

Hawley Award for Net Zero Innovation

• Amount: Up to £5,000 cash, medal, and certificate
• Focus: Engineering innovations delivering environmental benefits and net zero carbon achievement
• Eligibility: UK graduate residents within 10 years of career start at prototype/proof-of-concept stage

Leete Premium Award

• Amount: Up to £18,000 (£6,000 annually for up to 3 years)
• Focus: Manufacturing and advanced manufacturing research
• Eligibility: UK PhD students without CASE awards demonstrating high academic ability and vision for significant manufacturing change

Engineering Launch Scholarships (via IET Future Talent Awards)

• Amount: £1,500 per year for up to 4 years
• Focus: Supporting engineering students and apprentices facing personal obstacles
• Benefits: Financial support plus company mentor assignment
• Recent Scholars: 2024-25 cohort includes Amarleen Brar, Aisha Kukoyi, Luke Smedley, and Archie Kendall

In-Year Discretionary Grants (Rolling basis, no standard application form)

• Amount: Varies
• Categories: (1) Financial hardship for Company members and dependents; (2) Organizations supporting City of London history, traditions, and engineering-related charitable work; (3) Charitable organizations promoting engineering advancement
• Process: Contact clerk@engineerscompany.org.uk directly—no standard form available

Priority Areas

• Engineering solutions addressing poverty, hardship, and social disadvantage
• Engineering education and research, particularly manufacturing innovation
• Net zero and environmental engineering innovations
• Early-career engineer support and professional development
• Engineering applications in medicine and public health
• Defence engineering innovations
• Water and civil engineering projects in developing communities
• Mentoring and skills development in engineering professions

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the Trust's focus indicates limited support for:

• Non-engineering initiatives
• Projects without clear engineering components or ethos
• Non-UK registered charities (except for specific awards like Innovation For All)
• Large established charities where funding would be “incidental” rather than impactful
• Projects without measurable outcomes or sustainability plans

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Governance and Leadership

Current Master (2024-25): Dr Dolores Byrne OBE, a Chartered Engineer and Honorary Fellow of the IET with extensive senior executive experience in defence, aerospace, and security sectors.

Governance Structure: The Company is governed by a Court consisting of the Master, three Wardens (Senior, Middle, and Junior), and 10-30 Assistants (including five immediate Past Masters). The Master and Wardens serve one-year terms. The Court meets quarterly under the Master's chairmanship and is responsible for policy, strategy, and overall management. Six standing committees cover Nominations, Remuneration, Finance and General Policy, Muniments, Membership, and Programme.

Chief Executive: The Clerk serves as CEO, managing day-to-day affairs. Current Clerk contact: clerk@engineerscompany.org.uk

Trustees: The charity has 11 trustees and 7 volunteers with no employees receiving benefits over £60,000 (Charity Commission data, 31 December 2023).

Company Mission: “To promote the development and advancement of the science, art and practice of engineering for the benefit of the public and to afford means of professional and social intercourse and the exchange of information between Members of the Company, those who practice engineering and those who benefit therefrom.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

For Specific Award Programmes:

• Innovation For All Award: Online application via engineerscompany.org.uk by March 1 annually
• Engineering Impact Award: Expression of interest to outreach.grant@engineerscompany.org.uk by October 20
• AWE Defence Industry Prize: Apply to Defence-Engineering-Award@awe.co.uk by April 30
• Engineering Launch Scholarships: Apply through IET Future Talent Awards programme
• Other nomination-based awards: Via partner institutions (Royal Academy of Engineering, professional engineering institutions, Armed Forces)

For In-Year Discretionary Grants:

• No standard application form exists
• Contact the Clerk directly at clerk@engineerscompany.org.uk
• Provide details of your organization, project, and funding need
• Demonstrate clear engineering ethos or connection

Decision Timeline

• Major Awards: Judged and announced annually at June/July awards ceremony
• In-Year Grants: Variable timeframe—dependent on Court meeting schedule (quarterly)
• Innovation For All: Submissions due March 1; winners announced at summer ceremony
• Engineering Impact Award: Expression of interest October 20; decisions announced subsequently

Success Rates

Success rates are not publicly disclosed. However, with 25 annual awards distributed and up to £100,000 in total annual giving, competition is significant for major prizes. The Trust emphasizes impact and prefers supporting smaller organizations where funding will be transformational rather than incidental.

Reapplication Policy

No explicit reapplication policy is published. Unsuccessful applicants should contact the Clerk for guidance on reapplication timing and eligibility for specific programmes.

Application Success Factors

What Makes Applications Stand Out

For Impact/Outreach Grants:

• Clear engineering solution to a specific, well-evidenced challenge
• Measurable outcomes and realistic timelines
• Demonstrated need where £5,000 will have “significant impact” rather than being incidental
• Projects addressing poverty relief in developing communities have strong track record
• Water, sanitation, and infrastructure projects particularly successful

For Innovation Awards:

• Prototype or proof-of-concept stage with clear commercial development pathway
• Sustainability model and business plan demonstrating viability beyond initial funding
• Solutions addressing root causes (not just symptoms) of poverty or hardship
• Transparent financial controls and reporting processes

For Scholarships and Individual Awards:

• Demonstrate personal obstacles or financial need combined with strong academic potential
• Evidence of leadership, professional awareness, and commitment to engineering
• Clear career trajectory and potential for significant contribution to profession

Key Themes from Successful Recipients:

• Just A Drop (Zambia): Practical engineering solutions (borehole rehabilitation) benefiting specific communities (282+ people)
• Build It International (Zambia): School sanitation addressing dignity, privacy, and health
• Gurkha Welfare Trust (Nepal): Transformative clean water system serving 172 individuals including 141 students

Trust's Philosophy:

The Trust explicitly seeks applications where funding will have “significant impact” and favors smaller organizations over established charities where their contribution would be marginal. Projects must demonstrate clear engineering content and measurable community benefit.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Impact over scale: The Trust prioritizes transformational impact for smaller organizations over supporting large charities where funding would be incidental—emphasize how £5,000-£20,000 will make a meaningful difference
• Engineering at the core: Every project must demonstrate clear engineering science, art, or practice—describe technical solutions, not just outcomes
• No standard forms: For in-year grants, direct contact with the Clerk is essential; prepare a compelling case before reaching out
• Multiple pathways: With 25 annual awards across diverse categories, identify the best fit for your project or nominee rather than applying generically
• Sustainability matters: Particularly for Innovation For All, demonstrate how the project continues beyond initial funding through business planning and commercial development
• Deadline discipline: Major awards (Innovation For All, Engineering Impact, AWE Prize) have strict annual deadlines—plan submissions well in advance
• Network advantage: Many awards are nomination-based through partner institutions; cultivate relationships with the Royal Academy of Engineering, professional bodies, and Armed Forces contacts if relevant

References

1. The Worshipful Company of Engineers - Charitable Activities. https://www.engineerscompany.org.uk/charitable-activities/
2. The Engineers Trust - Official Page. https://www.engineerscompany.org.uk/2024/12/29/the-engineers-trust/
3. Innovation For All Award 2025. https://www.engineerscompany.org.uk/2024/11/13/innovation-for-all-award-2025/
4. Engineering Outreach Grant 2024. https://www.engineerscompany.org.uk/2024/06/24/engineering-outreach-grant-2024/
5. Awards Programme Details. https://www.engineerscompany.org.uk/charitable-activities/awards/
6. The Worshipful Company of Engineers Charitable Trust Fund - Charity Commission Register. https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/289819
7. About Us - The Worshipful Company of Engineers. https://www.engineerscompany.org.uk/about-us/
8. Impact - Funded Projects. https://www.engineerscompany.org.uk/charitable-activities/impact/
9. Engineering Launch Scholarships 2024-25. https://www.engineerscompany.org.uk/2025/06/07/engineering-launch-scholarships-2024-25/
10. Engineering Council UK - Innovation for All Award 2025 Announcement. https://www.engc.org.uk/news/news/entries-now-open-for-innovation-for-all-award-2025/
11. Charity Commission Financial Data (Year ending 31 December 2023): Total Income £156,847; Total Expenditure £139,641