Sir William Lyons Award

Encouraging young people into motoring journalism

Sir William Lyons Award

The Guild’s Sir William Lyons Award was originally presented by Sir William Lyons, the founding father of Jaguar Cars, with the express intention of encouraging young people to take up motoring journalism, including broadcasting.

Presented annually since 1966, the award is open to any person of British nationality resident in the United Kingdom, and who is aged under 23 on the awards closing date. To be eligible for the award the entrant has to complete a number of journalistic activities, including conducting and writing up an interview with a person in the motoring industry.

The winner receives their award at the Guild’s Annual Dinner, in front of PR representatives and other guests from across the motor industry. The prize includes work experience at a top motoring magazine and two years probationary membership of the Guild.

The 2007 winner George Barrow (right) receives his Sir William Lyons Award from Don Hulme of Jaguar Cars at the Guild Annual Dinner.

The Sir William Lyons Award has proven a starting point in the industry for many a young journalist. Past winners include Tony Dron, now a renowned writer and competitor in historic motoring and motor sport, Tim Watson, now Director of Public Affairs at Aston Martin, Jonathan Noble, now Grand Prix Editor of Autosport magazine, and Alastair Weaver, now a constant contributor to national newspapers and magazines such as Autocar and What Car?

“Winning the Lyons award was without doubt the single biggest aid to my motoring career. Most renowned writers are familiar with it, meaning it is held in very high regard in the motoring world; it certainly gets you noticed!
The benefits it brings are also priceless, not least membership of the Guild of Motoring Writers. Really, it is the only way younger writers can become full members so early. Crucially, this earns you the recognition of an accredited trade body, and a Press Card – again, exceedingly useful.
Of course, the cash award to winners is useful, but really the prestige of the award is most valuable. The past winners list is more like a roll-call of top motoring writers, proving the award’s ability to select good journalists. It seems to be a good breeding ground!”Richard Aucock, winner in 1998 and now a staff writer with Peter Burgess Motoring Research.

“If you’re looking to enter the world of motoring journalism, then there are few better ways of opening the right doors than winning the Sir Williams Lyon’s award. As a memorial to the founder of Jaguar cars, it fulfils its mandate superbly, aiming to ‘encourage young people into journalism and foster an interest in motoring.’
A quick look at the list of past winners includes renowned names such as Tony Dron and David Vivian and in my experience as 1995 winner, it still remains one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my career to date. As a door opener, it is a measure of journalistic ability that can easily make the difference between getting your first job or being pushed to the bottom of a large pile of applicants. And in a competitive job market, there’s little better than that”Peter Knivett, winner in 1995 and now a noted freelance writer and PR consultant.

Sir William Lyons Award entry forms are available from late spring, with the closing date at the end of September. The entry form can be dowloaded from here. For more information contact Guild secretary Patricia Lodge.