Hugh Baird College Named Finalist in Prestigious BRILLIANT Awards 2025
Hugh Baird College has been shortlisted as a Finalist in the highly competitive “Engineering Changemakers” category at the BRILLIANT Awards 2025, sponsored by Morgan Sindall Construction.
The College, which was recently rated ‘Outstanding’ by Ofsted, is one of only three finalists in this category; an incredible achievement that highlights its leadership in innovation, sustainability, and employer engagement.
The BRILLIANT Awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and partnership across the UK education sector, with a focus on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) and industry collaboration. They acknowledge schools, colleges, and universities that are leading the way in preparing students with the future-ready skills for industry.
This recognition places Hugh Baird College alongside some of the UK’s most respected educational institutions, including UTC Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, University of Glasgow, and King’s College London.
The project that brought together students, educators, and industry partners to reimagine sustainable maritime engineering and was initiated as part of the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society’s Maritime Heritage, Maritime Futures programme and funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, challenged students to design and build a model vessel that maximised cargo capacity, minimised cost, and championed low-carbon innovation.
The result was the “Ply-Jute Voyager”, a vessel that went on to win the Sustainability Award for setting new standards in sustainable maritime design. Students developed a innovative lightweight composite material from low-carbon sources, directly contributing to the sector’s decarbonisation efforts.
The “Engineering Changemakers” category celebrates institutions that lead the way in sustainable, practical, and forward-thinking education. Hugh Baird College’s success in this space is thanks to a truly collaborative effort:
Project Lead: Dr Charuni Dissanayaka, STEM Technical Lead at Hugh Baird College
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Mentors: Lukuman Mohammed (Course Leader – T Level Design, Surveying and Planning on Construction) and Kabir Abdulwahab (Course Leader – HE Foundation Degree in Advanced Manufacturing)
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Industry Advisors: Canal and River Trust, Svitzer, KS Composites, Maersk, and Cammell Laird
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Project Funding: Shaping Futures
The challenge engaged over 85 students from Degree, BTEC, and T-Level courses across disciplines including construction, carpentry, engineering, painting, and manufacturing. Working alongside industry mentors and faculty experts, students gained hands-on experience in design, stability analysis, propulsion systems, and prototype testing, preparing them for real-world careers in the evolving engineering sector.
The BRILLIANT Awards Ceremony will take place on November 11th as part of the BRILLIANT Festival in Liverpool. The Hugh Baird project team and students, alongside Cathriona Bourke, Learning and Participation Manager at the Daniel Adamson Preservation Society, will proudly represent the College at the event.
Speaking on behalf of the college, lecturer and STEM lead Charuni Dissanayaka said:
“This recognition is a massive validation of our innovative approach to education and our deep-rooted commitment to employer partnerships. We are incredibly proud of our staff and students whose creativity, skill, and dedication continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible.”
The college looks forward to sharing the results of the awards in the coming weeks.
