RSC Apprentice Prizes

Guidelines for nominators

• Nominations open 18 October.
  
• Nominations close 18 January, 17:00 GMT.
• Reference deadline 25 January, 17:00 GMT.
  
• Both RSC members and non-members can nominate for this prize.
• Nominees may NOT nominate themselves.
• We will not consider nominations of deceased individuals.
• Individuals named in any of the following roles during the nomination and judging period are not eligible to nominate or be nominated or provide a reference:
  
  • Judging panel members
  • RSC Subject Community Presidents
  • RSC Prize Committee members
  • Trustees of the Royal Society of Chemistry
  • Royal Society of Chemistry staff

• The prize is open to nominees based in the UK or Ireland only.
• Nominees can be completing any level of apprenticeship in the chemical sciences, from school equivalent level through to postgraduate equivalent level.
• Nominees should either be still completing their apprenticeship, or have completed their apprenticeship within the last 12 months at the close of nominations.
• Career breaks will be taken into consideration, and applications are particularly encouraged from those whose career has spanned a break due to caring responsibilities or personal circumstances e.g. a period of parental/adoption leave, family commitments, illness, or other exceptional circumstances.
• Nominees should only be nominated once for this prize in any given prize cycle. In cases where we receive more than one nomination for the same nominee, only one nomination will go forward to judging.
• Starting from the 2023 cycle, unsuccessful nominations for this prize will automatically rollover to the next prize cycle, unless the nominee’s circumstances have changed so as to make them ineligible, in relation to the eligibility criteria for the prize as outlined above. We encourage nominators to update their nomination between cycles when the nomination window is open. Nominations will be considered for two consecutive prize cycles.

To make a nomination, please use our online nominations system to submit the following information:

• Your name and contact details. The identity of nominators is not made known to our judging panels. The RSC reserves the right to amend nominations if necessary to ensure the anonymity of the nominator.
• Your nominee's name and contact details.
• A short citation describing what the nominee should be awarded for. This must be no longer than 250 characters (including spaces) and no longer than one sentence.
• A supporting statement (up to 750 words) addressing the selection criteria. Our guidance for nominators page has more information on writing this supporting statement.
• A statement (up to 100 words) describing how your nominee has contributed more broadly to the scientific community. A list of possible examples is outlined in the ‘selection criteria’ tab.
• The name and contact details of one referee. The referee might be the nominee's supervisor, line manager, project manager or mentor.
  • The reference should be a maximum of 750 words. Referees will be asked to state their relationship (if any) with the nominee and note any conflicts of interest.
  • All references must be submitted through the online system by the reference deadline, 25 January, 17:00 GMT. Nominations will not go forward to judging without a completed reference. Please ensure you submit your referee's details in plenty of time, to allow them sufficient opportunity to provide their reference.
  • As soon you submit your referee’s details, they will receive an automated e-mail with a link to submit their reference. Please contact awards@rsc.org as soon as possible if you experience any issues with this.
  • It is the nominator’s responsibility to ensure that the referee is aware of the nomination, that they should expect an e-mail invitation to submit their reference, and that they are aware of what is required to ensure that the reference is submitted before the deadline.
  • All referees will receive one e-mail reminder from RSC staff in the week before the reference deadline.
    

The RSC reserves the right to rescind any prize if there are reasonable grounds to do so. All nominators will be asked to confirm that to the best of their knowledge there is no impediment, relating to professional conduct, to their nominee receiving this prize. All prize winners will be asked to sign the RSC’s Code of Conduct Declaration for Recognition.

Selection Criteria and Judging Panel

The selection committee will primarily consider the impact that nominees have had in their workplace. Supporting statements should focus on this.

Nominees may have demonstrated impact in a number of ways, including but not limited to the following. Nominees do not have to demonstrate all of these to be considered for the prize.

• Application of knowledge and understanding – developing their own knowledge of the chemical sciences to inform decisions, support their work and solve problems
• Professionalism – working with autonomy, accountability, integrity, organisation and attention to detail
• Communication skills and teamwork
• Personal and professional development
• Contributing to a sustainable future

In an instance where multiple nominees are judged equally meritorious in relation to the above criteria, judging panels have the flexibility to use information provided by the nominator on the nominee’s broader contribution to the chemistry community as an additional criterion.

Examples of relevant contributions could include, but are not limited to:

• Involvement with Royal Society of Chemistry member groups/networks
• Teaching/demonstrating/mentoring
• Service on committees
• Leadership
• Promotion of diversity and inclusion
• Advocacy for chemistry
• Public engagement and outreach

RSC Apprentice Prize Committee

• Paul Brewer, National Physical Laboratory (Chair)
• Ian Ball, Johnson Matthey
• Berceste Beyribey Price, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero
• Oscar Kelly, BYK Additives
• Katty O'Brien-Quilty, AWE