Livingston student wins top award

Jul 15 2010 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A LIVINGSTON student has been hailed as a future captain of industry after scooping a top award.

The prestigious Scottish Year in Industry Contribution to the Business Awards were held at Strathclyde University recently.

The overall Scottish winner, with a prize of £500, sponsored by BAE Systems Regional Aircraft, was Luke Marris a former pupil of St Margaret's Academy in Livingston.

Luke spent his year with SELEX Galileo in Edinburgh, where he carried out an outstanding, innovative and challenging project, which involved researching a rapid way of calibrating array antennas.

He also produced software which will save the company significant amounts of time and money in the calibration process.

Luke gained invaluable industrial experience as well as optimisation techniques and applications to engineering problems.

He was among a group of students who have spent a challenging and demanding year in industry before going to university.

The judges, from BAE Systems Regional Aircraft, Shell UK, Qinetiq, Doosan Power and led by chair Nigel Akam from Skills Development Scotland said they had a very challenging task, in choosing the winning students.

Sean McGovern, director of customer support at BAE Systems Regional Aircraft said: “The technical quality and presentational style of the project work was that of seasoned professionals rather than young adults barely a year out of school. I have no doubt that these young people will much sought after by industry in the years to come.”

Allan Colquhoun, University Liaison Manager at SELEX Galileo in Edinburgh, commented: “We are delighted to be part of this programme and believe it is a great opportunity for the young people involved as well as contributing to our business, we are very pleased to see our students success recognised.”

Duncan McSporran Director EDT Scotland, added: “The Year in Industry is the flagship culmination of EDT's series of innovative pathway of programmes and it provides the very best opportunity for motivated young students, hoping to seize the opportunities which will boost their careers in industry.”