November 10th, 2017.


The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) has awarded the first Kevin Ash bursary.

The Scholarship was created by the Association in memory of the internationally respected motorcycle journalist Kevin Ash, and is intended to inspire automotive journalists to ‘think bike’ as they study for a career in automotive journalism.

Emily Macbeth is the first recipient of the bursary and she has begun her studies at Coventry University. The award will be given annually to a student on the university’s post graduate course for automotive journalism. It includes £1500 towards fees, plus a package of work experience.

The idea is to expose a budding automotive journalist to various aspects of the motorcycle industry and media, in order to equip them with the insight to write confidently about both bikes and cars when they start their career.

Kevin’s widow Caroline Ash has met Emily and is fully supportive of remembering Kevin in this way; “Kevin was passionate about good quality, and above all, honest journalism. I’m so proud that his legacy can continue through the education of new talented writers.”

Twenty-two-year-old Emily, who has completed a first degree in creative writing, had to write an essay about motorcycle safety from an outsider’s perspective in order to secure the funding. She explained; “I am really excited to be the recipient of the Kevin Ash Memorial Scholarship. I am confident that it will help me progress my career through work experience and support from the MCIA, giving me opportunities I wouldn't get elsewhere. I'm looking forward to getting stuck in, and hope that I can do the scholarship justice.”

Andrew Noakes, who runs the course is confident the combination of study and work experience will put Emily in a strong position for the future; “Coventry University’s Automotive Journalism Masters is the only course of its kind in the world. Graduates have gone on to work for a wide range of automotive media including Autocar, Evo, Top Gear, CAR, Auto Express and Pistonheads, while others now work in the motor industry with brands like Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar Land Rover, Continental and Tesla. The work experience placements that come as part of the Kevin Ash Scholarship will give Emily first-hand experience of the motorcycle industry and motorcycle media that will complement her studies, and the industry connections she makes will be very useful now and in the future.”

Anyone interested in the scholarship and the course should contact Andrew Noakes directly via email aa2387@Coventry.ac.uk