Named in honour of Sir Frank Whittle OM KBE FRS FREng, a pioneering engineer whose work transformed modern aviation, the Sir Frank Whittle Medal is awarded annually to an engineer resident in the UK who has made outstanding and sustained contributions that have had a profound impact on their engineering discipline.
The medal recognises lifetime achievement, celebrating engineers whose contributions have shaped their discipline over the course of their career.
The recipient of the Sir Frank Whittle Medal will be selected by the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Awards Committee. The Medal is awarded annually and will not be awarded in any year if the Academy so decides.
Nominations may be submitted by any individual or organisation.
Eligibility
- Nominees must be resident in the UK.
- Self-nominations are not accepted. Individuals who wish to be considered but do not have a nominator are encouraged to contact the Academy for assistance.
Ready to start a nomination?
Read through the below nomination guidance and ensure that you understand all the components of the application. Submissions must be made via the Academy’s Grant Management System no later than 4pm on Tuesday 24 February 2026.
Nomination requirements
Details of the Nominee
Provide full details of the Nominee, including:
- Name, job title, organisation and contact details
- A 50-word summary highlighting the nominee’s excellence and distinguished contribution within their engineering discipline
- A CV of no more than two pages, focusing on achievements relevant to the award
Citation
A citation of up to 500 words, clearly outlining the nominee’s outstanding and sustained achievements within their discipline. This may include:
- The significance and originality of the nominee’s contributions
- Key challenges addressed and how they were overcome
- The influence and long-term impact of their work on the engineering discipline and beyond
These points are provided as guidance and are not an exhaustive list.
We encourage nominators to show, where relevant, how the nominee’s work reflects the Academy’s:
- Commitment to a sustainable and innovative economy
- Focus on technology that improves people’s lives
- Support for an engineering community that is ready for the future
- Values of progressive leadership, equity, diversity and inclusion, excellence for impact, collaboration first, and creativity and innovation
For more information on the Academy’s strategy and vision, visit: https://raeng.org.uk/about-us/our-strategy/
Letters of support
Nominators must provide two letters of support. To ensure impartiality:
- At least one referee must be from outside the nominee’s organisation
- The nominator cannot act as a referee
Each reference should be:
- Evidence-based, offering specific examples of the nominee’s achievements and influence
- Objective, giving an unbiased evaluation of the nominee’s contributions and standing in their field
- Authored by an individual with relevant expertise and a clear understanding of the nominee’s work
- Printed on organisational letterhead, where applicable
Additional guidelines
- Only completed nominations, including CVs and letters of support, will be considered.
- Each nominator may submit up to three nominations for the Award per year.
- Submissions must be made via the Academy’s Grant Management System no later than 4pm on Tuesday 24 February 2026.
The Academy is committed to diversity and welcomes nominations and nominees from women and other groups currently under-represented across engineering, and seeks to recognise the full breadth of the profession.
For any queries, please contact [email protected]