The Materna Fund: Backing Talent Where It Matters Most
At Matchtech, we believe potential needs opportunity to thrive. That’s why we set up The Materna Fund with the University of Portsmouth - to support Foundation Year engineering students who show drive, curiosity, and ambition.
The Fund provides bursaries that help students overcome financial barriers, so they can focus fully on their studies, build confidence, and pursue their goals in engineering. In its first year, two scholars, David and Sergio, were selected from a strong pool of applicants. Each bursary is more than financial support; it’s a chance to remove barriers and create space for talent to flourish.
Sergio’s Journey: From Pressure to Progress
For Sergio, juggling work, study, and the rising cost of living was a constant challenge. The Materna Fund bursary gave him the breathing room to concentrate on his studies and engage fully with his course.
“The Materna Fund Bursary truly impacted me more than I ever expected. It helped me clear my mind from work, and fully focus on my course after a hard struggle to balance it out.”
It wasn’t just about money - it was the confidence and recognition that someone believed in his potential.
“The overall experience upon receiving the bursary was exhilarating, to see that someone heard my story and was touched enough to help me out.”
Freed from financial pressure, Sergio could fully commit to his learning, explore his interests, and develop skills that set him up for the next stage of his career.
After completing his Foundation Year, he progressed into Civil Engineering, pursuing his dream of designing roads in communities that lack essential infrastructure. His story shows how targeted support doesn’t just help students through education - it gives them the confidence, focus, and momentum to chase big goals.
“I 100% recommend that you go ahead and give it a shot because you never know what will happen unless you give it a try. I would just like to say to Matchtech that I will forever be grateful to them and to their team for reaching out and giving such a life changing opportunity.”
Sergio’s journey is proof that the right support changes outcomes, shaping the engineers and innovators who will drive the future of the industry.
See how we’re backing the future of engineering: STEM Futures
