Autocar Next Generation Scholarships

The Autocar Next Generation Award was launched in 2009 by Autocar in partnership with Courland Automotive and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The competition was created in order to find and nurture bright new talent for the automotive industry. After more than eight years, it has touched thousands of people and is regarded as the leading competition of its type.

The Autocar Next Generation Award challenges young talent to propose a problem-solving idea or innovation that will improve the UK automotive business.

A team of industry judges assesses entrants ideas based on innovation, technical and commercial viability. They also take into account the feasibility of implementing the ideas or innovations. The winner receives a £8000 prize plus a six-month work experience placement shared between the award sponsors.

The award is open to anyone aged between 17 and 25. Entrants must either reside in the UK or study at a UK school, college or university. All entrants must be eligible to work in the UK and be available for work experience in 2018.

The award programme has the support of Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren Automotive, Nissan, Toyota, and since 2017, Horiba Mira.

Several senior industry professionals evaluate the entries as part of a two-round judging process. Six finalists receive mentoring sessions with a partner judge in preparation for a final presentation day in November.

How to enter:
Describe an idea or innovation that would improve the UK automotive business…

The idea should fall into one of five categories – Mobility, Connectivity, Sustainability, Customer Experience, or Marketing and Communications – and it could focus on any area of the automotive business, from concept through to the sales showroom, car ownership and the aftermarket.

The deadline for entries is 5pm on Friday 31st August 2018.

Next Generation Award finalists and winners go on to achieve great things in the industry. In fact, many have used the awards as a launchpad towards the commercialisation of their ideas. In addition, many of the finalists have found industry positions. The 2011 runner-up Katie Jones is now a Colour and Materials designer at Jaguar Land Rover. The 2012 winner Roberto Antonio Pace is a Design Engineer at McLaren Automotive. Adam Hyett, a finalist in 2014 finalist, is a now a Senior Engineer at Aston Martin.

University student Joshua de Wit won the ninth annual Autocar Next Generation Award in 2017. Joshua studied Mechanical Engineering at the University of Sussex. His original idea focusing on stacked graphene batteries to improve the sustainability of electric vehicles. The design concept helps to drastically reduce the weight, charge/discharge times and packaging needs of conventional battery systems in electric vehicles. Joshua’s reward for wining the competition is six months of work experience with the award sponsors, as well as a £8000 cash prize.