The Department today welcomed Jeremy Ray and Rodney Brody of the Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers, an old established Company rooted in the trade of producing very high grade gold and silver wire for various uses. They are establishing an Award at the Department for exceptional work in the design or development of computer hardware, where high grade gold wire forms a key component in microchips and microprocessors. Since its earliest days, the Department has had a strong culture of building computers and computer systems, and the Award celebrates and recognises that tradition.

The Award will be made annually, starting in 2020, for excellence and achievement in computer hardware work at the Department by undergraduate or postgraduate students. The winner each year will be selected by a committee of staff members. All kinds of hardware-related activity involving the design, development or testing of some physical instantiation of computing components or systems are eligible. These might include computer architecture, embedded systems, physical user interfaces, network infrastructure, robotics, etc. Winners will receive £1000, an embroidered certificate, and will be presented with the trophy (shown here) at a banquet at the Mansion House in the City of London.

The Worshipful Company of Gold and Silver Wyre Drawers maintains the traditions and customs of the City of London and supports the Lord Mayor and Corporation in promoting the status and the image of the City. It also provides a link to the modern usage of gold and silver wire and thread. The Company seeks to increase its charity funds to support and improve its ability to make grants and donations to a wide variety of worthy causes, mainly connected with the City, education, the arts, the armed forces, and gold and silver wire trades as well as other causes espoused by the Master or individual Liverymen. It does so whilst promoting the good fellowship and welfare of its Liverymen, Freemen and their guests. The Company seeks to encourage young people working with gold and silver wire to connect with the Company. As part of this, the Company has identified computer technology as an important modern and growing use of gold wire.