The Salters’ Next Generation Chemist Award

Applications for 2026 are now open! Please read on for how to apply, deadline 30th April.

The Salters’ Next Generation Chemist Award aims to support aspiring chemists and promote excellence in the field by giving students from underrepresented backgrounds the opportunity to pursue degrees and careers in the chemical sciences, industry, and research.

The Salters’ Charitable Foundation is the sister charity to the Salters’ Institute, focussing on the distribution of grants and donations to a wide range of causes. This award forms an important part of the Salters’ Charitable Foundations (SCF) Awards programme and supports its commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion as it makes chemistry accessible to all.

Award winners will be invited to join the Salters’ Alumni Network and benefit from the excellent opportunities afforded to the Alumni Network, as well as be invited to participate in the Salters’ Institute’s educational outreach.

Eligibility

The award of £2,500* will be made to a candidate in year 13 (or equivalent) who:

• has accepted a place to study chemistry or a related chemical subject at university in Autumn 2026 (this does not include medicine and dentistry),
• shows a strong passion for chemistry,
• demonstrates skills, such as leadership, relating to their chosen course,
• engages in extracurricular opportunities related to their chosen field of study.

*£1,500 to the student and £1,000 to their school science department to support the teaching and learning of practical chemistry. We welcome regular updates from the science department to share the impact of the award with us.

Due to the nature of this award, please ensure that the candidate fits the following criteria: has been eligible for free school meals at any point in the last six years, or is in receipt of a means-tested bursary or scholarship.

Application

Applications for the Salters’ Next Generation Chemist are now open!

Applications consist of two sections:

• A: Nomination form – to be completed by the chemistry teacher
• B: Student Statement – to be completed by the student

These forms can also be accessed via our Dropbox.

Please email all parts on behalf of your student to [email protected] to apply.

Deadline to apply: 30th April 2026

If you encounter issues downloading the form or have any questions about the application process, please don’t hesitate to get in touch at [email protected]

The successful candidate will be notified by 29th May 2026, please note this is conditional on accepting a place to study chemistry or a related chemical subject after A Level (or equivalent) results day in August 2026.

Your completed application will be shared with the reviewing panel. The panel includes members of the Salters’ Company and external reviewers (such as teachers and previous awardees). Before sharing your application externally, we will remove your name and contact details. By submitting your application, you confirm that you consent to us sharing the redacted application with the external panel for the purpose of review.