Irish firm continues drive to promote gender diversity in the engineering sector.
Kirby Group Engineering has announced the recipients of its third-level bursary awards for this year, as part of the company’s ongoing drive to promote diversity and inclusion in the engineering sector. Six female students have been selected this year, as the programme goes from strength to strength.
Kirby is a family-founded firm based in Limerick and has operations across Ireland, the UK, mainland Europe, the Nordics, and South Africa. It employs over 1,900 people and provides full mechanical and electrical contracting services as well as specialist high-voltage (HV) and medium-voltage (MV) design and construction services. Its clients include a number of global IT leaders and range across different sectors including Data Centres, Life Sciences, Industrial, and Power and Renewables.
Now in its fourth year, Kirby’s bursary programme is open to women studying Electrical, Mechanical, or Building Services Engineering at third level institutions across Ireland and South Africa. Having come through a rigorous selection process conducted by Kirby’s Talent Acquisition team, the six recipients will receive:
- A full scholarship to cover the coming academic year
- Paid professional placements on Kirby’s local and international projects
- Mentorship from senior engineers
- Opportunities to gain highly valuable industry insights
This year’s winning students are Aisling Costelloe from Ennis, Co Clare; Meadhbh Hurley from Limerick; Caoimhe Flynn from Kilcolgan, Co Galway; Emilia Hildebrandt from Tipperary; Sarah Coyle from Belmullet, Co Mayo; and Emma Prestage from Cape Town, South Africa.
Meadhbh Hurley is a student at University of Galway. She says she’s delighted to have been selected: “Kirby’s recognition of me as a deserving candidate for this bursary has reinforced my belief in myself as a developing electrical engineer and will bolster my confidence through my future professional development.”
Caoimhe Flynn, who is also studying at University of Galway has been speaking about her hopes for the bursary: “I will gain significant experience through work placements and mentorship which will greatly aid my studies while allowing me to expand my networks and meet other like-minded women in the field of engineering.”
Emma Prestage, who is from Cape Town and a student at Stellenbosch University says an opportunity like this bursary can be a very important career boost: “For a student, the hardest part is often getting the “first foothold” of real experience. Knowing that Kirby is investing in my development, and that there will be chances to learn on real projects and from experienced engineers, is incredibly valuable.”
Sarah Coyle is studying at Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway. She says diversity in the industry is crucial: “It is important to me that women are visible in the engineering industry, as their presence inspires the next generation, including myself, to pursue careers in engineering with confidence and ambition”
Emilia Hildebrandt is a student at University of Limerick. She expects that having the bursary’s support will help her spread the word that engineering is for everyone: “It would also allow me to dedicate more time to projects and events to share that knowledge and to encourage fellow students and younger students in pursuing engineering. I have always been someone who loves to get involved, and I’m very thankful that this bursary gives me the opportunity to be able to now spend more time giving back to my community in the year ahead.”
Aisling Costelloe, another Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway student says she sees potential for working with Kirby well into the future: “I hope to join a graduate programme with Kirby, which I believe would open the door to incredible opportunities. With Kirby’s global presence and its strong foundation in Ireland, I would have the chance to work on engineering projects around the world, contributing to solutions that improve the world we live in.”
Electrical Engineering Manager at Kirby, Amy Lane is among the leaders supporting the students. She says the scheme has become a valued part of Kirby’s structure:
“I’m thrilled to say we are entering the fourth year of our third-level bursary programme. It has been a pleasure to meet and work with many highly talented and motivated students and this year’s intake is no different. Programmes like this one are vital to the future of engineering, one in which diversity is the norm and Kirby will continue to champion that cause, as a people-first organisation.”
Kirby’s Chief Operations Officer, John Grogan, believes the bursary programme is an extremely worthwhile investment:
“Initiatives such as this play an important role in demonstrating the benefits of careers in engineering and construction and more importantly, ensuring those messages reach as wide an audience as possible. The bursary programme is a symbol of Kirby’s commitment to promoting diversity and above all, our identity as a people first organisation”.
