A NEW scholarship fund, donated by Claremont Office Furniture and awarded through the Adam Smith Foundation, has been awarded to two Fife College students, and one of them is from Cowdenbeath.

Open to Furniture and Interior Design students at the College, the scholarship offers various amounts up to the value of £2,000 to provide direct assistance to support their studies.

Interior Design student Susan Crombie was one of the two recipients of the new scholarship.

Susan, from Cowdenbeath, said: “I was delighted to receive the award. I think it is great that the College has a scholarship like this.

"The award I received will really help me progress and support my next steps.”

Susan, who hopes to set up a soft furnishing business when she finishes her studies, will use her award to purchase materials to help with coursework.

The other recipient was Furniture student Ewa Wisthal (33), who also plans to use her scholarship award to help pay for equipment and tools. Ewa, from Glenrothes, plans to move on to a do Furniture HNC course when she completes her National Certificate in the subject.

Martin Fellowes, Business Manager for Claremont Office Furniture, said: “We are delighted to offer a scholarship which recognises the commitment and high standards of work of these students.

“As a family-run business we feel it is important to give something back and to support those looking to start a career in furniture and design - offering this scholarship through the Adam Smith Foundation is a fantastic way of doing just that.”

Marc Fleming, Curriculum Manager: Built Environment Technicians & Interior Design and Innovation Lead for Fife College said: “The Claremont Scholarship is a great way to support Furniture and Interior Design students as they make transitions into further learning and take the first steps in their careers.

“We are very grateful to Claremont Office Furnishing for offering these awards which will have an immediate impact on these students’ academic life and their exciting plans for the future.

"We wish Susan and Ewa well in their future studies and careers and also look forward to continuing our relationship with Claremont in the future.”