Engineering excellence,
since 1923.
The Whitworth Society is the community of engineers who carry the name of Sir Joseph Whitworth — recipients of the scholarship that, for more than a century, has recognised the union of workshop skill and academic distinction.
A UK engineering society binding together more than a century of Whitworth Scholars — from the foundries of the 1920s to today's aerospace, energy and infrastructure programmes.
Sir Joseph Whitworth left the engineering world two enduring contributions: the screw threads that standardised modern manufacturing, and a scholarship that has, since 1868, recognised the rare combination of practical workshop ability and academic distinction.
The Society, founded in 1923, exists for the engineers who have received that award — to keep their work, their network and their public influence connected across generations.
Read our historyThree things, done with passion.
Scholarships
The Whitworth Scholarship recognises engineers who combine workshop experience with academic excellence. Administered through the Whitworth Awards Scheme.
Network
An alumni network of Whitworth Scholars from across UK industry and academia — from this year's award holders to fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering. Membership is by Scholarship.
Impact Events
Annual lectures, industrial visits and policy roundtables that connect senior engineers in the network to the next generation of practitioners.
Latest from the Society
Whitworth Summer Meeting, Preston — 9th & 10th July 2025
Hosted by President Rachael Hoyle, the 2025 Summer Meeting took members to BAE Systems Warton and the Helmshore Mills Textiles Museum.
New Award Holders' Visit to Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum
On Friday 21st February 2025, a group of new award recipients gathered at Imperial College London and the Natural History Museum as their first foray into the Society.
Celebrating 40 Years of the New Whitworth Awards Scheme
2024 marked 40 years since the Whitworth Scholarship Awards scheme was relaunched. A four-part series of reflections from across the decades.
"The scholarship paid for the apprenticeship years that no university funding would touch. It is the reason I am an engineer at all, and the Society is the reason that decision feels like a community rather than a job."
Eleanor Hughes · Whitworth Scholar 2019 · Senior Aerospace Engineer, Rolls-Royce
- Rolls-Royce
- BAE Systems
- Arup
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Dyson
- Siemens Energy
- National Grid
- Network Rail
- Babcock
- GKN Aerospace
- IMechE
- Royal Academy of Engineering