A FORMER Pocklington School pupil and patron of its new Art and Design Technology Centre Campaign is to receive an industry award for outstanding contributions in the field of design.

Professor Steven Kyffin will receive the Institution of Engineering Designers’ (IED) ‘Support Inspire, Achieve’ Award at a ceremony next month, recognising his work encompassing academic learning, research and industrial practice.

He follows billionaire Dyson inventor James Dyson, Apple’s chief design officer Jonathan Ive, industrial designer Sebastian Conran and Formula 1 engineer Adrian Newey in receiving the award.

Having spent much of his childhood and early adult years based in Pocklington, Mr Kyffin is now Northumbria University’s Pro Vice-Chancellor (Business and Enterprise) and the award particularly recognises his continuing commitment, through this role, to the leadership of the design discipline from both within the industrial and academic contexts. His has also lent his support as a parton to raise funds for Pocklington School’s new £2.5 million Art and Design Technology Centre.