Frank Morton: But Not as We Know It

Annual student sports meet calls on students and sponsors to support new virtual format

MY name is Benjamin Fadele, a third-year student at the University of Bradford and the President of the 2021 Frank Morton Committee. Frank Morton is an annual chemical engineering sports day event, which takes place at a different university every year. The 2021 event, to be held in February, will see a few changes. Firstly, it will be open to students from all engineering backgrounds, and secondly, as you might expect, we’re going virtual!

Due to the current social climate and uncertainty around changing Covid-19 restrictions, the 2021 organising committee (this year based at Bradford Uni) was faced with a new challenge which they would (hopefully) never face again until another global pandemic comes about in another 100 years (good luck to the team in 2121!). We either had to cancel the event or come up with an alternative format which would be just as enjoyable and beneficial to both students and sponsors of the event.

As the world has appeared to seamlessly transition and adapt towards the use of virtual technology, the team decided to challenge themselves to host the event virtually on a platform which will be exclusively built for Frank Morton 2021. By taking inspiration from previous Frank Morton events, we have adapted the event to ensure that the main focus of the event will not be lost, that it maintains some authenticity and ensures the community aspect of the event will be retained. This has been an extremely difficult year and has highlighted the importance of community and teamwork, especially for students.  This is why Frank Morton is an important date in our chemical engineering calendar.

The event will feature an interactive virtual careers fair; live guest speakers; virtual sporting activities; an inter-university pub quiz; virtual murder mystery/escape room; and live entertainment featuring a comedian etc. As usual, a range of prizes will be up for grabs, as well as the coveted Frank Morton trophy (sponsored by IChemE).

The interactive and immersive careers fair will, through workshops and webinars, give students the chance to speak to potential future employers and sponsors, offering valuable insight into the various industries that chemical engineering has to offer.

We’re actively inviting participation and sponsorship from industry, as we see this as vital to the success of this student-led event. If you are an employer, this event is the perfect opportunity to interact with potential future employees and give them an insight into how and why they could work for you. The Frank Morton event offers companies a chance to truly engage with students in an informal environment. And for 2021, sponsorship fees are a fraction of the usual rates. Sponsorship options include prizes, events/activities, webinars and talks, inclusion in featured adverts, and company logos on merchandise.

As we draw closer to the event, regular updates will be posted on the Frank Morton Sports Day Facebook page.

For more details on sponsorships, please contact our sponsorship coordinator Aleesha at a.altaf6@bradford.ac.uk or frank-morton-2021@bradford.ac.uk