Winner savours prize of a lifetime

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Winner of the Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award 2011, Oliver Brunt (pictured), is now more than halfway through his much-coveted work experience prize.

He has completed one month at each of the following: McLaren Automotive, Peugeot and Toyota; thereafter, he will work one month at Skoda and one month at Mercedes.

"I would encourage all students to get their thinking caps on, put pen to paper and enter this award," says Brunt. "The whole process has been incredible and the benefits and experience are priceless. I've worked at amazing companies alongside really great people at all levels. Additionally, the opportunities to network will, I hope, increase my employability at the end of university and help me secure the sort of position I will be looking for."

The organisers of the Autocar-Courland Next Generation Award 2012 are reminding university students to enter the much-coveted and premier automotive industry talent search competition. The 2012 winner will be rewarded with a priceless work experience package comprising one month at each of the contest sponsors – Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren Automotive, Peugeot, Skoda and Toyota – as well as £7,500 cash.

The contest was launched in 2009 to offer entrants a unique chance to launch an automotive industry career and is run by Autocar in partnership with Courland International and the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. The 2012 award is backed by Jaguar Land Rover, McLaren Automotive, Peugeot, Skoda and Toyota.

To enter the competition, students need to answer in 500 words a brief set by Autocar editor-in-chief Steve Cropley and submit their entry via the Autocar-Courland Next Generation website – www.nextgen.autocar.co.uk – by 31 August 2012.

The brief states: "In no more than 500 words, describe an improvement (be it an invention, innovation, a legislative change, a change to corporate policy or the adoption of a new convention) which you believe would be a worthwhile benefit to the UK automotive business. You will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of how such an improvement could be made viable and what the wider implications of it might be."

Submissions will be welcomed from all disciplines, including – but not limited to – engineering, marketing and communications, design and media. Special credit will be given to the originality of entrants' suggestions.

The six best entrants will attend a judging day at the home of Autocar, where they will have the chance to present their ideas to a panel of leading industry executives. Three finalists will be invited to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders' annual dinner on 27 November, where the winner will be announced.

Autocar editor-in-chief Steve Cropley comments: "This contest offers students a priceless opportunity to get a foot in the door of the most amazing and inspirational industry. In addition to the work experience and the cash prize, it offers a great opportunity to make contacts, network, see the industry at work first hand and maybe even secure a job offer."

Brunt's winning idea combines a new kind of active head-up display, known as SHUD – Social Heads-Up Display – that uses sophisticated graphics and can employ the whole of a car's screen as its 'canvas'. The SHUD system conveys a new level of real-time car-to-car communication to provide drivers with a much better standard of information, presented more attractively and without distraction.

Author
Brian Wall

Related Companies
McLaren Automotive Ltd
Mercedes-Benz UK Ltd
Peugeot
Skoda Brand - Volkswagen Group UK Ltd
Toyota GB plc

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