Financial Support

About

The Cambridge Prize is an annual award open to global brewers and distillers under 35 years of age who have made a significant contribution to brewing, distilling or malting science and technology over the last three years.

Candidates may enter personally, or be sponsored by companies, universities or other related establishments. All applications must be received by 31st December each year.

Please see the Cambridge Prize rules for more information and good luck!

What is the prize?

This award is robustly judged by the IBD Awards Committee and the winner will receive:

• £500 (GBP)
• An engraved memento presented at a relevant IDB event
• An article published in the Journal of Institute of Brewing (JIB)
• Coverage across the IBD and partners' digital channels

Rules - Download here

Application form - Download here

Presentation

The winner receives the Horace Brown Medal and is invited to give a lecture at an appropriate event (section convention, section meeting, section dinner or other events of suitable relevance) with subsequent publication in the Brewer & Distiller International (BDI) or Journal of the Institute of Brewing (JIB).

Eligibility

This award is open to all members and application is by selection, not submission.

About the Award

The Horace Brown Award commemorates Dr Horace Tabberer Brown, one of the 'founding fathers' of the Institute of Brewing, known for his outstanding contribution to chemical, biological and geological research.

Although largely self-taught, Dr Horace Tabberer Brown FRS (1848-1925) was a true polymath, who left his mark on virtually all areas of science in a career that lasted over 50 years. His work spanned barley germination, beer microbiology, water compositions, oxygen and fermentation, beer haze formation, wort composition and beer analysis. Always seeking new problems to investigate he never specialised as a scientist, being a naturalist, chemist, geologist and biologist in turn.

On Brown's death, the Institute resolved to perpetuate his memory by establishing a medal in his honour. The medal was to be awarded "....for eminent services on the scientific or technical side of the fermentation industries, at intervals of not less than three years, and then only if, in the opinion of the Council, an award is justified....". The award was to be available to any member and the recipient to deliver a lecture on the occasion of the presentation of the medal.

In the years since its inception, the medal has been awarded to 27 individuals. The first recipient, in 1926, had been a personal friend of Brown and his connections with brewing went back almost as far as those of Brown himself. This was the eminent chemist, Professor Henry Edward Armstrong FRS.

At the bequest of Council, the award was reviewed by the IBD Awards Committee in February 2005. There was unanimous support for a more international perspective and the broadening of the scope from eminent scientist to eminent person. The three-yearly timescale was considered too broad and a two-year timescale was recommended but would, however, be deferred in a year if no suitable candidate is found.

• The Awards Committee will aim to make a recommendation at the December council meeting in the appropriate year.
• The nominee to be selected will be an eminent person who has contributed significantly to the advancement of the interests of the IBD.
• The Award is to be presented every three years or deferred if there is not a suitable recipient in a given year.
• Expenses for the winner to be paid by the IBD.

Presentation/Prize

The winner is given £150 worth of books, with IBD bookplates inside noting the year and name of the winner. The award is presented at the Scottish Section annual dinner.

Eligibility

Awarded to the best third-year student in Brewing & Distilling at ICBD Heriot-Watt.

About the Award

The original legacy was made by Sir William Waters Butler and was bequeathed to the Institute on the death of Lady Butler (17th September 1950).

The Sir William Waters Butler's bequest originally provided for an annual prize to be awarded to an outstanding student at The School of Malting and Brewing, Birmingham University. After the School was closed, the Institute obtained the agreement of the trustees to transfer the award to the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD) at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.

The Sir William Waters Butler's Award provides for an annual prize to be awarded to the outstanding/best student of the year at ICBD. The prize takes the form of books, which are selected by the recipient and awarded by the Institute on behalf of the Trustees of the Bequest. The prize winner is presented with their books (complete with bookplates) at the Scottish Section Annual Dinner, where the winner is a guest.

The parameters of the award are that the 'outstanding/best' student is the student with the best all-round marks in the third year.

Worshipful Company of Brewers Award

Presentation/Prize

The annual award consists of a cheque for £500 from the Worshipful Company of Brewers. In addition, they will receive an engraved tankard to be presented at a Worshipful Company of Brewers or IBD function.

Eligibility

This award is restricted to members (individual or company) of the Worshipful Company of Brewers and given to the candidate with the highest marks in the General Certificate in Brewing, based on the examination results of the sitting calendar year.

The Scotch Whisky Association Award

Presentation/Prize

The annual award consists of a cheque for £600 from the Worshipful Company of Distillers. In addition, they will receive a certificate to be presented at an IBD function.

Eligibility

This award is given to the candidate with the highest marks in the General Certificate in Distilling, based on the examination results of the sitting calendar year.

The Worshipful Company of Brewers Award

Presentation/Prize

The annual award consists of a cheque for £500 from the Worshipful Company of Brewers. In addition, they will receive an engraved tankard to be presented at a Worshipful Company of Brewers or IBD function.

Eligibility

This award is restricted to members (individual or company) of the Worshipful Company of Brewers and given to the candidate with the highest marks in the General Certificate in Packaging, based on the examination results of the sitting calendar year.

Module 1 - Crisp Malting Award

Presentation/Prize

The award consists of a cheque for £500. The award is presented at an IBD function.

Eligibility

This award is open to all candidates sitting the Diploma in Brewing Module 1. It is awarded to the best candidate based on examination results.

Module 3 - Brewing Engineers Association Engineering Award

Presentation/Prize

The award consists of a cheque for £500. The award is presented at an IBD function. In addition, the Brewing Engineers Association (BEA) kindly fund the winner's attendance at a BEA dinner plus overnight accommodation.

Eligibility

This award is open to all candidates sitting the Diploma in Brewing Module 3. It is awarded to the best candidate based on examination results.

The J S Ford Award

Presentation/Prize

The award consists of a cheque for £1000 and an engraved tankard. The award is presented at an IBD function. If based outside the UK, the winner receives three days' subsistence and accommodation for three nights. However, candidates organise and pay for their own travel or request their company do so.

Eligibility

Awarded to the highest distinction of Diploma in Brewing. This award is open to all Diploma in Brewing candidates. It is awarded to the best candidate based on examination results.

About the Award

In 1945, Mrs John S Ford endowed a memorial to her late husband who had died the previous year. Her wish was that the memorial should be of a nature to encourage young brewers, and it was agreed that it should take the form of a monetary prize or prizes in perpetuity for the best student of the year passing Part I of the Institute's examinations. This benefaction was increased at a later date and the awards finally took the form of travelling studentships or financial help towards the payment of tuition fees. It was also recommended that only candidates of British nationality who had passed Part I of the Institute's examinations should be eligible for the awards and that trustees should be appointed to administer the fund. This recommendation was changed and opened to all candidates in 1969. The Council approved these recommendations and a trust deed was duly executed.

John Simpson Ford had served as Chairman of the Research Fund Committee from 1924-1926, and the successful evolution of the Institute's research activities during the early years of its existence owed much to his foresight, guidance and practical help. Born in 1866, Ford entered the brewing industry in 1889 when he was appointed chemist to Wm. Younger & Co. Ltd., Edinburgh. He became a Director of the Company in 1921. He was a member of the Institute and a valued contributor to its Journal for many years, serving as Chairman of the Scottish Section in 1908-09.

Module 1 - Simpsons Malt Award

Presentation/Prize

The award consists of a cheque for £500 and an appropriate memento donated and organised by Simpsons Malt. The award is presented at an IBD function.

Eligibility

This award is open to all candidates sitting the Diploma in Distilling Module 1 (preparation of fermentable extract) and it is awarded to the best candidate based on examination results.

Module 3 - Briggs of Burton

Presentation/Prize

The award consists of a cheque for £500, plus an engraved Quaich. The award is presented at an IBD function.

Eligibility

This award is open to all candidates sitting the Diploma in Distilling Module 3. It is awarded to the best candidate based on examination results.

Module 2 - Micro Matic Award

Presentation/Prize

The award consists of a cheque for £500. The award is presented at an IBD function.

Eligibility

This award is open to all candidates sitting Diploma in Packaging Module 2 and is awarded to the best candidate based on examination results.

Module 3 - Brewing Engineers Association Packaging Award

Presentation/Prize

The award consists of a cheque for £500. The award is presented at an IBD function. In addition, the Brewing Engineers Association (BEA) kindly fund the winner's attendance at a BEA dinner plus overnight accommodation.

Eligibility

This award is open to all candidates sitting the Diploma in Packaging Module 3 and is awarded to the best candidate based on examination results.