Zara Phillips launches new scholarship

Land Rover and Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) have announced a new scholarship programme for young women looking to pursue a career in engineering. Zara Phillips launched the campaign at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, where she spoke about how inspiring both her grandmother and her mother were in encouraging young women to consider a career in engineering.

Zara’s mother, the Princess Royal, is the patron of WISE, which helps organisations to inspire women and girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The Queen, then Princess Elizabeth, joined the ATS at her own insistence in 1945, aged 18. Having enlisted as a Subaltern, she progressed by the end of the war to the rank of Junior Commander after completing course No 1 at the Mechanical Training Centre of the ATS. As part of her training to become a fully qualified driver, the then-Princess had to learn how to fix a car, including changing a wheel and basic engine maintenance.

The Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship will provide a £9,000 bursary to three female students or apprentices. In addition, the winners will be provided with mentoring support from both Land Rover senior engineers and WISE representatives.

Nicci Cook, senior HR manager at Land Rover, said: “Land Rover has a proud tradition of encouraging diversity in the work-place. Engineering is at the very heart of our business, and we rely on a broad range of talents to give us a competitive edge and help us move forwards. We hope that the Range Rover Evoque WISE Scholarship will inspire a new generation of women in engineering.”