Billmeir Award Scheme

Billmeir” is essentially in-house shorthand for grants for technical education and training. It stems from the Trust set up in 1957 by the late Jack Billmeir CBE, a shipowner and Prime Warden of the Shipwrights Company in 1962. The Shipwrights’ Company Educational Trust dates back to 1899 and Billmeir was amalgamated into it in 1980.

Awards are primarily made to individuals to support them in their training at one of the schools teaching modern (e.g.GRP) and traditional timber ship and boat building, or to universities and colleges teaching naval architecture, and marine engineering. Awards may also be made directly to the naval architecture and engineering faculties of universities which offer relevant courses, to support vacation outplacements in industry. These grants are then administered by the faculty

Individual grants range from a maximum of about £1600 to help with fees or living expenses whilst on course, down to £200 for tools. The tools shown to the right were presented (see image above) to the top trainee at Borsham North Shore Boat Yard. It is the Company’s policy to make grant cheques payable to the school and dependent on continuing good reports of performance and attendance.

In 2014/15 £17,100 was allocated to 15 individuals who applied to the Billmeir Scheme. Courses supported ranged from Naval Architecture to traditional wooden boat building. Further funds of £2000 each were allocated to 3 student bursaries at Strathclyde, Newcastle and Southampton Universities in addition to grants to CVQO and UKSA.

Under the terms of the Shipwrights’ Company Educational Trust, the Worshipful Company of Shipwrights invites applications (online application form link below and in left margin) from:

• Students of naval architecture, or students, apprentices or other persons employed, interested, or concerned in the shipping, shipbuilding, boat building or related industries, who are citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

For grants of money to assist the candidate to:

• attend a post-graduate or other advanced course of study at any recognised university or college, or shipbuilding, engineering, shipping or research establishment in the UK
• or carry out maritime-related research or studies in any part of the world.
• or attend an undergraduate course of maritime related study.
• or spend a period of study or employment in a maritime related industry
• or engage in any approved activity designed to advance a career in the shipping, shipbuilding, boat building or related industries.

The Grants Committee meets three times a year in February, June and November. Please be aware that the application needs to be properly assessed and references sought and received before it will be considered by the Grants Committee. Applications may be made at any time and will be considered at the next available opportunity by the Grants Committee.

Please complete the “Billmeir On-line Application Form” by clicking on the link here: http://www.shipwrights.co.uk/education/billmeir-award-scheme/billmeir-online-application-form

Worshipful Company of Shipwrights
Ironmonger’s Hall, Barbican, London, EC2Y 8AA
020 7606 2376
020 7600 8117

clerk@shipwrights.co.uk

https://www.shipwrights.co.uk/education/billmeir-award-scheme