News
The UK’s deep-tech community came together at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London on Wednesday 3 December 2025 for the TechWorks Gala Dinner & Awards, celebrating innovation, collaboration and excellence across the sector.
During the ceremony, Samuel Kennedy, University of Southampton / Arm, was named UKESF Scholar of the Year 2025, with Jadesola Adelekan (Loughborough University / Renesas Electronics) and Zachary Danzig (Loughborough University / Capgemini Engineering) recognised as Runners Up.
Recognising outstanding UKESF Scholars
The Scholar of the Year Award celebrates UKESF Scholars who:
- make a significant contribution to their sponsoring employer during their work placement
- achieve excellent academic results
- actively promote Electronics to young people through STEM outreach
Scholar of the Year 2025: Samuel Kennedy
Samuel is studying at the University of Southampton and is sponsored by Arm, where he was involved in digital hardware prototyping of ARM architectural features.
Reflecting on the recognition, Samuel said:
“I am honoured to receive the award and pleased that my contributions have been recognised. I am very thankful to the UKESF for this opportunity.
The scholarship has helped me with industry experience, through my sponsoring company, and has also supported me with electronics outreach. Both of these have been rewarding and valuable additions to my education. Electronics engineering is an exciting field to be part of, as it is one of the main disciplines at the forefront of modern technology.”
When asked what he would say to a young person interested in Electronics, he said:
“If you are interested in a career in engineering and technology, then Electronics is an excellent path to pursue because there is a huge amount of innovation and progress in this area.”
Runners Up 2025
Jadesola Adelekan — Loughborough University / Renesas Electronics
During her placement year at Renesas Electronics, Jadesola collaborated with another intern to create a pedestrian crossing demo board to showcase some of Renesas’ semiconductor products.
Reflecting on being named Runner Up, Jadesola said:
“Winning this award is an incredible honour. It feels great to know I have made valuable contributions so far. It serves as a significant stepping stone to the start of my career in Electronics and it will continue to motivate me throughout my career.
What I love about Electronics Engineering is how innovative it is. It can be used for so many things as the world is evolving so there’s always something to explore. I love how every class and lab encourages problem-solving. Most of all, I love how supportive everyone in this field is.
Jadesola’s advice to a young person considering Electronics Engineering is:
“I would encourage them to do it. Studying Electronics has been challenging at times but also super rewarding. I’ve developed skills I never imagined I would have at the beginning of my degree and each project has given me a new level of grit. Along the way, I have met so many supportive lecturers, mentors and friends who genuinely want you to succeed so I promise you you’ll be left in good hands.”
Zachary Danzig — Loughborough University / Capgemini Engineering
At Capgemini Engineering, Zach helped design, construct, test and deliver hard real-time test kit that is scalable, reusable, and cost-effective.
Reflecting on the award, Zach said:
“Being named runner-up for the UKESF Scholar of the Year award was a big deal for me. Being recognised by both UKESF and my industry sponsor made me feel genuinely valued as an engineer in progress, not just a student. It has boosted my confidence and reinforced that I am on the right path.”
One of the things I love most about Electronics engineering is that it sits at the boundary between the digital and physical worlds. It is creative, logical, frustrating, exciting, and endlessly evolving. There is always a new problem to solve and a better way to solve it!”
On inspiring the next generation, Zach said:
“I would say go for it! Don’t be put off by how challenging it seems, nobody understands everything immediately and everyone in industry is still learning every single day. Electronics rewards curiosity, patience, and persistence far more than raw talent. It’s a career where you can build things that will genuinely change the world. If you enjoy understanding how things work and making them work better, you will never be bored.”
Find out more
The Scholar of the Year Award, sponsored by IC Resources, is open to UKESF Scholars who have completed at least one summer placement or are currently undertaking a longer placement with their sponsoring employer.
If you are an employer and would like to connect with capable and motivated Electronics Engineers like Sam, Jadesola and Zach, find out more about the UKESF Scholarship Scheme and get in touch with the UKESF at [email protected].
Applications for undergraduates to apply for the UKESF Scholarship Scheme 2026/27 will open in September 2026.
