The aim of the James Rennie Medal (JRM) is to promote general awareness of the role of newly professionally qualified Chartered Engineers involved in the civil engineering world. The competition was first held in 1996 and is won by the best Chartered Professional Review candidate.
The award is open is open to all candidates who have passed their CPR/CPRP in the year preceding that in which the award is made. Nominees must be in the early stage of their career.
Winners receive the James Rennie Medal and a £1,000 cash prize, which are presented at the ICE Annual Awards Ceremony.
Who was James Rennie?
James Rennie was a well-known civil engineer. He passionately believed that to work in civil engineering you need in-depth and thorough training.
Rennie spent most of his 70-year career carefully tutoring his pupils to make them great civil engineers. Former ICE President Douglas Oakervee was one of these pupils.
After his death in 1994, ICE created The James Rennie Medal. It celebrates Rennie's commitment to training young engineers and encouraging them to become ICE members.
Nomination process
Professional Reviewers nominate candidates who show outstanding qualities in their Chartered Professional Review and really promote developments in civil engineering.
Their report and presentation also need to show they thoroughly understand engineering design and construction principles.
- The Awards Panel selects the top 10 candidates from all those nominated in December of each year.
- The James Rennie Medal Sift Panel review and select the top 3 candidates from those selected by the Award Panel in January of each year.
- The 3 finalists are invited to present their professional review report at the James Rennie Medal Final held in March of each year at One Great George Street and will participate in a lively question-and-answer session with the audience and judging panel.
- The winner of the James Rennie Medal is announced on the night and receives the James Rennie Medal and £1,000.
- The winner is invited to the ICE Annual Awards Ceremony to receive their Medal.
- All three finalists also get the chance to have their reports published in an ICE journal.
2024 winner
Joseph Roper CEng MICE, Sub Agent, Balfour Beatty
Joe presented on his journey to successfully achieving a contract incentive milestone involving deep foundation installation on the HS2 Area North Project in 2022.
He explored how its learning has shaped him as a Civil Engineer to then lead the successful delivery of a 72-day rail blockade amidst a number of challenges.
"Wow, what an amazing feeling! After years of hard work, it’s great to be recognised with the medal. It’s a true testament to the people that have supported me in getting to this position!
“Once again, thanks for organising a fabulous event, I felt very lucky to be a part of it!”
Chair’s quote
"2024 has proven to be another fantastic year for the James Rennie Medal, with brilliant presentations from our final three candidates. We picked a winner and he is a very powerful winner among the finalists.
Joe should be really proud, but so should the other two finalists.”
Previous winners
See the previous winners of the James Rennie Medal below.
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