BritishSpanish Society Scholarships’ award ceremony: Spanish ambassador residence, 19th May 2014

Speech by the Society’s Chairman Jimmy Burns Marañon

 Ambassador; Principal Supporters – BBVA, BUPA, Ferrovial Aeropuertos , Santander Universities,  and Telefónica,My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, Scholars….

First, may I express my thanks to Ambassador Trillo Figueroa for his support and hospitality this evening. 

This is the seventh year of the British -Spanish scholarship and programme, and I want to thank our Sponsors for their continuing participation.  Not that most of you here tonight need reminding but I would like stress just what a key part this programme plays in our work as a charity committed to the task of building cultural, education, and social bridges between the peoples of Spain and the UK.

Our fund raising efforts include a varied events programme which a few weeks ago included our much sought after Gala Dinner in the House of Commons where Dame Esperanza Aguirre was our guest speaker. This has enabled the Society once again to award tonight a number of smaller awards or bursaries in addition to the main ‘awards’.  The five main scholarships we are announcing tonight would not be possible without the continuing generosity of our principal supporters, all companies with a significant international profile and important presence in the UK and Spain.

This generosity of our corporate sponsors has led during the scholarship programme’s first six years in operation to the award of over fourty scholarships in fields such as medicine, engineering, physics, history, music and literature.

 Our aim is to engage in a positive and mutually beneficial three-way partnership ensuring that we select the best possible candidates, that our sponsors are happy with the topic of research, and that the scholars keep the Society and their sponsors well informed about their developing investigations .Part of this transparent and accountable process includes publication in our increasingly popular and widely read magazine La Revista of articles written by the scholars about their work.

These scholarships, and the bursaries will help young British and Spanish students pursue meritorious post-graduate studies and in the process foster British-Spanish understanding between individuals and institutions. These are challenging economic times for youth and universities and research centers in both countries so we take pride in being able to make a positive investment in the future, supporting research, investigation and learning in a wide range of fields we believe are important to the development not just of both countries but the wider global village. This evening’s event is an act of faith in our students, their research and innovation and should be an inspiration to move forward.

Jimmy Burns Marañón

Chairman