Enginuity proud to celebrate quadruple royal honours for sector leaders

Enginuity is proud to share that four of its senior leaders have received recognition from His Majesty The King, reflecting their longstanding contribution to engineering and manufacturing skills and the wider sector.

CEO Ann Watson and Trustee Alexia Williams have both been awarded MBEs in The King's Birthday Honours for services to skills and the engineering and manufacturing sector. In addition, Deputy Chair Ian Ritchey has been awarded an OBE. 

Their honours follow the recent announcement that Enginuity Group's Chair, Sir Jim McDonald, has been appointed to The Order of the Thistle, one of the highest honours bestowed by the Monarch.

Together, these accolades shine a spotlight on the importance of engineering and manufacturing to the UK's economy and future prosperity, as well as the dedication of those working to address skills challenges and create opportunities for the next generation.

Celebrating the people behind the impact

Ann Watson joined the Enginuity Group in 1998 and was appointed CEO in 2015. Throughout her career, she has championed initiatives that help close skills gaps, support employers and strengthen the talent pipeline across engineering and manufacturing.

Alexia Williams is a Through Life Technical Lead at Rolls-Royce, where her career has spanned the entire Defence Portfolio. Through her work and advocacy, Alexia is not only driving engineering excellence but also inspiring the next generation to pursue careers in STEM. She was appointed to the Board in January 2025.

Commenting on the recognition, Ann said: "I am personally humbled and delighted to be recognised in this way, and the fact that two of my esteemed colleagues have also been honoured gives me particular pride and pleasure. Our work to close the skills gap, support the engineering and manufacturing sector, and ensure that young people can access rewarding and engaging career opportunities has never been more important.

"This recognition is not only a great personal honour, but also a reflection of the vital contribution our sector makes to the UK's economy and future prosperity. I hope this triple recognition brings renewed confidence and momentum to everyone working across the engineering and manufacturing sector."

As Enginuity continues its mission to ensure the UK has the skilled workforce needed for the future, this recognition serves as a reminder of the impact that collaboration, innovation and investment in skills can have on individuals, businesses and the wider economy.

We congratulate Ann, Alexia, Sir Jim and Ian on these well-deserved honours!