Bursaries & Awards

British APCO has two key awards that are made - the Ian Thompson Bursary is awarded annually; and the Gareth Wilkinson Memorial Award is awarded when the Board determine there is a deserving candidate.  Find out more about both below.

Ian Thompson Bursary Award

British APCO announced the formal launch of the inaugural Ian Thompson Bursary in November 2022 at our Autumn event in Newcastle. Recognition and celebration of innovation and success, as both individuals and as team members, should be par for the course of being a British APCO member.  It is an important ingredient for galvanising a professional community spirit amongst the Association. Our former Chief Executive Ian Thompson, who passed away in 2020, was a great advocate for education and developing young talent within the public safety industry. During Ian’s tenure, it was often discussed how we should support the development of these individuals while at the same time promoting British APCO and furthering its charitable objectives.  The Board have been considering an award in Ian’s name for some time and were delighted to have announced the formal launch of the award. 

The award is open to applicants of all ages in the first 2 or 3 years of working or studying in the field of critical communications in public safety within the UK and Ireland; they could have a role in a user organisation, employed by a supplier or in full time studies.

The winners of Ian Thompson Bursaries are as follows:

March 2023

The first winners of the award were announced in Coventry in March 2023 and presented by Ian Thompson's wife Amanda supported by British APCO Past President, John Anthony; the 2023 Bursary winners were:​

• Oliver Horrell – Zebra Technologies
• Conner Fearn – Grayce
• Amy Finch – Sepura
• James Searle – NHS Ambulance Radio Programme

​More information can be found in this news article.

March 2024

The winners of the 2024 Ian Thompson Bursary were presented with their awards by Amanda Thompson, supported by British APCO Chair, Chris Lucas, at BAPCO2024 and the recipients were:​

• Georgie Green – NHS Ambulance Radio Programme
• Jonathan Sinclair - Inclutech
• Tom Morgan - Motorola Solutions

​More information can be found in this news article.

March 2025

The most recent winners of the award were announced in Coventry in March 2025 and it was a privilege to once gain have Amanda Thompson present the awards, supported by British APCO Trustee, Becca Jones. The 2025 Ian Thompson Bursary winners were:​

• Hayley Jepson – North Yorkshire Police
• Aaron Page - Actica Consulting
• Kenneth Low - Home Office
• Lauren Kambamba

​More information can be found in this news article.

Gareth Wilkinson Memorial Award

It was in spring 2004, in the days when the annual BAPCO event was held at the Islington Business Design centre, that past British APCO President, Gareth Wilkinson, a senior officer with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue service, and a leading light in the North West for British APCO, was tragically taken from us all too soon.  In late 2004, the British ACPO Executive Committee put in place a policy document outlining the setting up of the Gareth Wilkinson Memorial Award with the objective of commemorating Gareth and all that he did for British APCO.  The Aim of the award is to acknowledge the outstanding contribution and meritorious service given by an individual British APCO member to enable the Association to achieve its Purpose – March 2023 was only the third time that the award has been presented. Read our news story here.

• April 2005, London:  Duncan Swan

• April 2008, London: Colin Evans

• March 2023, Coventry: Tony Bracey