This month sees the start of the 2022 Sir Ian Dixon Scholarship. The scholarship, named after CIOB’s president from 1989 to 1990 and head of Willmott Dixon, is designed to provide an opportunity for companies to develop the potential of their staff through a research programme.
Each successful scholar will be awarded £3,000 to carry out a research project while continuing to work. The subject of the research is proposed by the applicant, addressing topical challenges and opportunities facing the industry.
At the beginning of the process, the candidate is invited for interview and gives a presentation to a panel of representatives from CIOB and the Worshipful Company of Constructors Charitable Trust.
Once selected, the candidate will then meet with experts every few months to receive support and mentoring and at the end of the 12-month scholarship period presents their research findings. The scholar must also produce a report or other suitable outputs which detail the findings of the work.
Last year’s scholars were Claire Mullen and Jamie Tong. Mullen is chief engineer for Sir Robert McAlpine and the chair of its Gender Equality Network. She was an award-winner at the National Association of Women in Construction Award 2012. Her research explored gender equality in the construction industry.
Tong is an apprentice building services engineer at Sir Robert McAlpine. He is studying for a Bachelor of Engineering one day per week at London South Bank University. His research explored the implications caused by utility strikes during construction and their potential mitigation.
Tong presented his findings at an event in January which was followed by a round-table discussion attended by CIOB president Mike Foy and vice-president Sandi Rhys Jones, with other industry professionals.
View Jamie Tong discussing his research and how the scholarship helped his career below:
