Could You Be Awarded £10,000 for Your Engineering Achievements?

The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) presents the James Clayton Prize, a prestigious annual award that recognises outstanding engineering achievements.

The prize was first presented in 1945 to Air Commodore Frank Whittle and is regarded as the most prestigious award made by the Institution. The prize is to be awarded for ‘research, investigation, and encouragement of modern engineering science’. It recognizes the hard work, dedication, and ingenuity of engineers who have made significant contributions to the field.

The James Clayton Prize is a testament to the importance of engineering in modern society and the impact that engineers can have on the world.

The prize is named after James Clayton MIMechE (Taunton, UK) who has been described as a “complete engineer.” With knowledge of buildings and reinforced concrete construction, of steam and electrical installation, and his uncanny aptitude for the design of intricate textile machinery, he undertook projects of the greatest magnitude with absolute confidence and unfailing success.

James Clayton was always willing to give a helping hand to young engineers and apprentices, particularly to those who came from lower income households. There is no doubt that the struggles of his own early years were never forgotten - hence his bequest to the Institution.

Prize Eligibility

The James Clayton Prize is open to all IMechE members in any location.

Candidates are free to nominate themselves and must be supported by a Proposer and Seconder who will provide independent citations.

Achievement will be best demonstrated by way of a recent product or research project, or experimental work, from either an industrial or academic source in any geographical location over a typical period (circa five years).

Applications for the James Clayton Prize can be submitted via online application form, and the deadline for submissions is 30 June 2023.