Aberdeen Graduate Elected Whitworth Scholar

One of the UK’s most prestigious scholarships has today (2 October) been awarded to an Aberdeen-based senior engineer with Petrofac, the international oil & gas facilities service provider.

Thirty-one-year-old Eddie Schrader was elected Whitworth Scholar at an engineering award ceremony in London today. The senior metering engineer was one of the first students recruited to the Petrofac Undergraduate Sponsorship Programme in 2005, and was the first successful candidate from the programme.

He continued with work placements at Petrofac throughout his degree at The Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, where he graduated with distinction with a MEng degree in Mechanical Engineering. He became a full time employee in June 2007, initially working as a metering engineer in the Petrofac metering team and was recently promoted.

Eddie was awarded the prestigious engineering Whitworth Scholarship Award whilst studying for his degree. This Award financially supports engineering students who start their career as apprentices and progress to degree-level.

To become a Whitworth Scholar applicants must demonstrate their academic achievements and activities out with university, and take an active interest in engineering. Eddie will become an ambassador for the Society, in particular through mentoring and encouraging young engineers to join the industry.

He commented: “I’m honoured to be recognised as a Whitworth Scholar, which I would not have achieved without the support and guidance Petrofac provided throughout my degree. Petrofac has helped me develop my skills and I look forward to further expanding my knowledge through working with the team.”

Derek Wilson, metering director, at Petrofac Facilities Management, said: “I’m delighted that Eddie has received this accolade, as it is evidence of his hard work and perseverance. He is an asset to the team and if it were not for Petrofac’s placement programme we would not have found such talent. We’re proud of Eddie’s achievements both at Petrofac and RGU, and he is positive proof that a proactive approach to the industry skills gap issue can produce excellent results.”