Monday, July 24, 2006
Birkett joins select fellowship of engineers
26-year-old Martin Birkett is one of only six individuals in the UK to be granted an Industrial Fellowship by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851.
A product engineer employed by electronic components manufacturer, TT Electronics Welwyn Components, has joined the distinguished ranks of some of history's greatest scientists by being awarded a prestigious Industrial Fellowship. Martin Birkett (26) is one of only six individuals in the UK to be granted an Industrial Fellowship by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, which recognises innovation and creativity in British industry. His predecessors include scientific heroes and Nobel Laureates such as the father of nuclear science, Lord Rutherford, and atomic physicist, Lord Penney, who were supported in their early careers by the commission.
Birkett was nominated for the award by his employer, Welwyn Components, for his outstanding contribution both to the company and to the industry as a whole.
Employed by Bedlington based Welwyn Components for 11 years, Birkett first joined the company as a 16-year-old apprentice and has progressed rapidly.
After successfully completing the company's intensive apprentice scheme, Birkett combined full-time employment with part-time study and obtained a first class honours degree in manufacturing systems engineering from Northumbria University.
In 2004, building on his academic success, Birkett developed a manufacturing process that increased the end of line yield for precision resistors, one of Welwyn's key products.
His project made a significant contribution to the company and received a top award by the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Birkett has now embarked on a project to develop low resistance metal film resistors and began a part-time PhD in September 2005.
The commission will provide financial support to both Birkett and his employer throughout his study and research with the hope that his efforts will result in an innovative product, which Welwyn will then be able to patent and produce.
Managing Director, Jon Reardon-Smith commented: 'We are delighted that Martin has been offered an Industrial Fellowship, and to be one of only six people selected in the UK is a fantastic achievement'.
'As a company we place great emphasis on people development and product innovation and Martin's success story is a terrific example of this'.
'Working with an organisation like the commission will provide focus to our research and development programme and enable us to forge stronger links with academic centres of excellence'.
A product engineer employed by electronic components manufacturer, TT Electronics Welwyn Components, has joined the distinguished ranks of some of history's greatest scientists by being awarded a prestigious Industrial Fellowship. Martin Birkett (26) is one of only six individuals in the UK to be granted an Industrial Fellowship by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, which recognises innovation and creativity in British industry. His predecessors include scientific heroes and Nobel Laureates such as the father of nuclear science, Lord Rutherford, and atomic physicist, Lord Penney, who were supported in their early careers by the commission.
Birkett was nominated for the award by his employer, Welwyn Components, for his outstanding contribution both to the company and to the industry as a whole.
Employed by Bedlington based Welwyn Components for 11 years, Birkett first joined the company as a 16-year-old apprentice and has progressed rapidly.
After successfully completing the company's intensive apprentice scheme, Birkett combined full-time employment with part-time study and obtained a first class honours degree in manufacturing systems engineering from Northumbria University.
In 2004, building on his academic success, Birkett developed a manufacturing process that increased the end of line yield for precision resistors, one of Welwyn's key products.
His project made a significant contribution to the company and received a top award by the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
Birkett has now embarked on a project to develop low resistance metal film resistors and began a part-time PhD in September 2005.
The commission will provide financial support to both Birkett and his employer throughout his study and research with the hope that his efforts will result in an innovative product, which Welwyn will then be able to patent and produce.
Managing Director, Jon Reardon-Smith commented: 'We are delighted that Martin has been offered an Industrial Fellowship, and to be one of only six people selected in the UK is a fantastic achievement'.
'As a company we place great emphasis on people development and product innovation and Martin's success story is a terrific example of this'.
'Working with an organisation like the commission will provide focus to our research and development programme and enable us to forge stronger links with academic centres of excellence'.
# posted by Swathi @ 2:13 AM 
