Three students have received a welcome boost after becoming the latest recipients of the Claremont Office Furniture Scholarship, awarded through the College’s Adam Smith Foundation. 

Now in its second year, the Claremont Office Furniture Scholarship offers various amounts up to the value of £2,000 to provide support to Fife College Furniture and Interior Design students. 

This year’s recipients were HND 3D Design students Nina Werjk and Alicja Demkow, both from Dunfermline, and National Certificate Furniture student Lindsay Oliver, from Crieff. 

Despite the challenges of coronavirus, the scholarships have been able to be fully awarded online with future Adam Smith Foundation Scholarships set to be awarded in a similar fashion. 

Lyn Gold, Adam Smith Foundation Scholarship Co-ordinator, said: “We are delighted to still be able to continue with our scholarship programme online, awarding students to help them continue with their studies and achieve their career goals. The financial support available is needed now more than ever before, and it’s fantastic to give our students a much-needed boost and recognition in these difficult times.

“Nina, Alicja and Lindsay are fantastic students and very deserving of this award – we would like to thank Martin Fellowes and the team at Claremont Office Furniture for their very generous support.”

Nina, from Dunfermline, plans to frame her certificate and put it up in her home office where she is continuing her studies from during the coronavirus lockdown.  She said: “I am delighted and feel very privileged to have been selected as a winner for this amazing scholarship that Fife College and the Adam Smith Foundation offers.

“Not only is this achievement a credit to have on my CV but will also go towards funding a new laptop to support the software required for my course and allow me to enhance my studies at home and progress onto developing my own business.”

In the future, Nina plans to develop a business idea of working with estate agents to offer an interior design service for people looking to get their homes spruced up for selling. 

Martin Fellowes, Business Manager for Claremont Office Furniture, said: “These are tough times for everyone, so we are absolutely delighted to still be able to offer our scholarship which recognises the commitment and high standards of the work of Nina, Alicja and Lindsay. 

“As a family-run business we feel it is important to give something back and to support those looking to start a career in furniture and design - offering this scholarship through the Adam Smith Foundation and Fife College is a fantastic way of doing just that.”

Glasgow based Claremont Office Furniture has been providing quality office furniture to businesses throughout Scotland for more than 35 years.  They are credited by a wide range of sustainability organisations meaning that all of their furniture is produced with respect for the highest ecological, social and ethical standards. 

The Adam Smith Foundation scholarship programme was created over 20 years ago to support Fife College students.

Through partnership with businesses, charitable trusts and individual donors, the Foundation has developed a Scholarship Programme which provides recognition, a financial award, and in some cases, work experience, internships and trips abroad to support and encourage students to achieve their full potential.

For further details about scholarships at Fife College visit the Adam Smith Foundation page or email scholarships@fife.ac.uk.