The New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering (NMITE) on 9 May, at Hereford Cathedral, celebrated the achievements of its second cohort of 20 students – “the Trailblazers” - who graduated with either a BEng (Hons) or MEng (Hons) Integrated Engineering degree.
NMITE’s innovative, hands-on learning model has produced this new group of work-ready engineers who chose a bold new path in engineering education and are set to become the next generation of changemakers. NMITE’s President and Chief Executive James Newby said “This, our second graduation ceremony is as important as our inaugural ceremony last year, not least because we see more clearly what NMITE is here to do and what our students are capable of becoming”.
He referred to NMITE being created to “meet the moment”, the clearest recent example of which is its new degree in Autonomous Robotics, which may well be one of the fastest-developed degree programmes ever seen in the UK and opened for applications on 30th April. “By meeting the moment, I mean recognising what the world needs now – and choosing to act on it. For NMITE, that has meant building something different and quickly responding to new technologies and national priorities.” Addressing the graduating students, Newby added “You have proved you can solve messy problems with no clear answers. You leave us not just with knowledge, but with judgement, confidence and the ability to contribute from day one. It has been a privilege to watch you become the people you are today.”
Recording another high level of employment and an outstanding 100% for those students originally from Hereford and close by, Airbus and Hitachi Energy are two companies which join the list of prestigious companies who are already employing NMITE graduates such as local Hereford firm Alto Dynamics, BAE Systems, Balfour Beatty, Mondelez and Kier.
Addressing the students, Jesse Norman, Chair of NMITE said “You have shown dedication, resilience and imagination in abundance. You have learned that the task is not merely to understand the world, but to act within it: to change lives for the better, to create enduring value, and to take full responsibility for what you make. In doing so, you have taken NMITE another important step forward. For that, we thank you.”
Guest speaker, Professor Robert Klitgaard who is University Professor at Claremont Graduate University in California and also serves on NMITE’s Academic Advisory Board delivered the keynote speech on the topic of the challenge of AI. Before coming to Claremont Graduate University GU as President (2005-2009), he was Dean and Ford Distinguished Professor of International Development and Security at the RAND Graduate School, America’s leading PhD program in policy analysis. He has worked and done research in more than 40 countries around the world, working with governments, civil society organizations, and international institutions.
Three awards for outstanding achievement
At the Graduation Ceremony which took place at Hereford Cathedral at 14:00 on Saturday 9th May, Professor Richard Lillington, Head of Learning and Teaching, presented the academic prize for highest overall academic achievement for the Bachelor of Engineering in Integrated Engineering to Thomas Reese.
Tom distinguished himself as a proactive leader and dedicated contributor. Tom was a Student Ambassador and the inaugural President of the Outdoor Adventure Society.
Tom completed a highly regarded placement year with BMW, gaining valuable industry experience, and is now working as a Freelance Consultant and Project Manager, currently leading an agricultural diversification project that reflects both entrepreneurial drive and real-world impact.
Also presented by Professor Richard Lillington, the recipient of the academic prize for highest overall academic achievement for the Master of Engineering in Integrated Engineering is Lewis Over.
Lewis was a recipient of the Engineer in Hereford Bursary, sponsored by Welsh Water.
His Master’s project connected engineering with humanitarian applications. He developed a lightweight robotic system to support medical logistics in disaster relief environments, improving the speed, safety, and accuracy of supply handling. He continues his engineering career as a Graduate Engineer at Taylor Lane UK’s leading timber frame construction specialist, based in Hereford.
The President’s Award is nominated by the Academic Team. It is made to the student who throughout their programme has embodied and exemplified the NMITE values of Collaboration, Communication, Creativity, Curiosity, Grit, Determination and Passion. Presented by James Newby, the recipient of the President’s Award for 2026 is Elyse Marriage.
As a recipient of the She/Her Bursary, Elyse demonstrated creativity, technical skill, and a strong commitment to inclusive engineering.
Her Master’s project, “addressed the high cost and limited accessibility of current adaptive equipment for individuals with upper body impairments participating in archery. She proposed a more affordable and inclusive alternative for para-archers.
Elyse is now working as Graduate Transport Engineer at Ramboll UK, the global engineering, architecture and consultancy company, where she continues to apply technical capability in a human context.
Fin Neate, who graduated last year and now works at Mondelez International as a Graduate Engineer, referenced both how NMITE helped prepare her for the world of work “In the fast-paced manufacturing world I now work in, my repeated experience of rapid project turnaround at NMITE really did come in handy… and quickly” as well as giving her view on engineering which is “often about calm, calculated risks and impacts, but it is also about fierce passion for making the world a safer, fairer, and cleaner place for the generations that follow”.
Since NMITE first opened its doors to students in 2021, it has demonstrated how a new model can offer something new to the university system and help young people, to become not just critical thinkers, but thinking doers. Since last year, applications to study at NMITE have increased by 38% and of the offers already made to students, NMITE has seen a 54% increase in firm acceptances. This is evidence of NMITE shifting to becoming more ‘the’ choice for applicants rather than ‘a’ choice. The results are unambiguous. Year on year, NMITE is growing its reach and its reputation – and applicants are increasingly choosing it as their first choice.
Links to speeches from the Graduation and the programme for the day are here: https://we.tl/t-rzv8qZKM0xdqpXfj
Speeches are from:
• Jesse Norman, Chair of NMITE
• Chief Executive of NMITE, James Newby
• Professor Robert Klitgaard who is University Professor at Claremont Graduate University in California and also serves on NMITE’s Academic Advisory Board
• Fin Neate, who graduated last year and now works at Mondelez International as a Graduate Engineer
