NEWS | Sainsbury Management Fellows Launch ‘Step Challenge’ to Raise MBA Scholarships for Talented Young Engineers

15 February 2023: Today sees the launch of the first Step Challenge fundraising initiative of the Sainsbury Management Fellows Alumni. Step Challenge is aiming to raise £100,000 toward the £500,000 needed this year to fund 10 scholarships for talented young engineers to study for an MBA at one of fourteen prestigious international business schools.

For 36 years Lord Sainsbury of Turville’s Gatsby Charitable Foundation, has funded the Sainsbury Management Fellows scholarships and every year 10 scholarships are awarded. This has produced 400 MBA graduates who make up the SMF Alumni, who go on to make substantial contributions in business and wider society.

The SMF Step Challenge is the first drive to fund the scholarship scheme directly. In addition to pledges and single donations, the Fellows can opt for other forms of donations including regular monthly contributions of a size of their choosing.

The highlight of the Step Challenge is Giving Week, which takes place between 22 and 28 March, when all SMFs will be encouraged to participate in challenges from their peers to donate whatever they are able, large or small. Giving Week hopes to reinforce the message of the combined power of small gifts – every gift counts.

President of Sainsbury Management Fellows, David Falzani MBE said, “This is an exciting time for our alumni. It’s our opportunity to repay the faith that Lord Sainsbury has placed in us by recognising the positive life-changing impact and benefits the SMF scheme has had on our careers and lives. Through our Step Challenge we begin the process of putting the prestigious SMF scholarship scheme on an independent footing to sustain Lord Sainsbury’s vision of having more business leaders with engineering skills in boardrooms long into the future. SMFs will continue to help grow UK businesses, our economy and society.”

Please do look out for Step Challenge news and updates on the social media platforms of Engineers in Business Fellowship (which administers the SMF scholarships in conjunction with the Royal Academy of Engineering). We would be very grateful for your help and assistance. To find out more or to join in the Step Challenge, follow this link.