Enginuity Skills Awards 2024 finalists announced

Enginuity, the charity dedicated to closing skills gaps in UK engineering and manufacturing, is thrilled to announce the finalists for the highly anticipated Enginuity Skills Awards 2024 - showcasing excellence and skills development in UK engineering and manufacturing.

This annual ceremony, now in its 10th year, celebrates outstanding individuals, teams, and organisations that exemplify excellence in engineering and manufacturing. 

The finalists have been selected for their exceptional contributions and achievements in various categories, highlighting the talent and innovation driving the industry forward. From apprentices to seasoned professionals, these finalists represent the best and brightest in the UK's engineering and manufacturing landscape. 

The Enginuity Skills Awards play a pivotal role in recognising and promoting skill development initiatives in engineering and manufacturing, ensuring a robust and thriving future for these vital sectors in the UK economy. 

ENGINUITY SKILLS AWARDS 2024 FINALISTS 

Advanced Level Apprentice, sponsored by UCAS: 

Recognising an apprentice whose dedication to learning and skill development is positively impacting the workplace, serving as an exemplary role model to inspire others toward careers in engineering and manufacturing. 

Adam Thwaites, Siemens plc 

Demonstrating proactive personal and professional growth, overcoming challenges to excel in their role and contributing significantly to their workplace by leading impactful initiatives and promoting apprenticeships through STEM Ambassador programs. 

Ellenique Martin, Jaguar Land Rover 

Excelling in personal and professional development, contributing significantly to their workplace through initiatives like support forums and event organization, also promoting apprenticeships and careers in engineering as an Early Careers Ambassador. 

Jamie Clarke, Lisi Aerospace Rugby  

Overcame challenges such as dyslexia and health issues to pursue their dream through practical apprenticeship training and contributing to productivity enhancements, training rig designs, safety improvements, troubleshooting, and promoting apprenticeships and engineering careers. 

Graduate, Degree or Higher Level Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Teesside University:  

Recognising a graduate or apprentice whose commitment, innovative thinking, and skills are making a valued contribution to the workplace and wider industry. 

Yusuf Mumtaz, Jaguar Land Rover  

Overcame personal challenges, contributing significantly to Jaguar Land Rover with data analysis and engineering skills, and promoting apprenticeships in engineering, aspiring to become a certified integrated engineer and advocate for apprenticeships in the future.   

Ethan Round, Bentley Motors Ltd  

Excels in hands-on learning, overcoming challenges like dyslexia, contributing significantly at Bentley with diverse skills in areas such as crash analysis and testing, actively promoting apprenticeships and engineering careers, and aspiring to eventually explore safety aspects in Formula 1 engineering. 

Asad Gondal, Rolls-Royce   

Made significant contributions at Rolls-Royce by spearheading cost-saving initiatives and driving efficiency improvements, actively promoting apprenticeships and careers in engineering with aspirations to evolve into a manufacturing leader, pursue further education, and mentor future generations of engineers.   

T Level Student, sponsored by BAE Systems:   

Recognising a student whose commitment to learning and skills development in both education and the workplace positions them as an inspiring role model for careers in engineering and manufacturing. 

Jack Matthews, East Norfolk Sixth Form College  

Commendable academic performance, dedicated pursuit of practical skills in the renewable energy sector, and active promotion of engineering careers, all while overcoming challenges like balancing a part-time job and providing family support. 

Elliott Barton, Barnsley College 

Excelling academically and professionally, driven by a passion for practical skills development and industry relevance, showcasing the value of T Levels in preparing for successful careers, promoting engineering and manufacturing, with future aspirations from network engineering to cybersecurity consultancy. 

Jamie Baines, Barnsley College 

Excels in programming and image manipulation during a prestigious industry placement with ARM, championing the value of vocational education, promoting T Levels, and aspiring to thrive in the tech sector, making a meaningful impact with their programming skills and passion. 

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion, sponsored by Rolls-Royce:   

Celebrating organizations or teams that have made significant contributions to improving and increasing equality, diversity, and inclusion in engineering and manufacturing. 

Access & Awareness Initiative, MTC Training / Oxfordshire Advanced Skills 

Dedicated to promoting equality and diversity in STEM education and apprenticeships, providing targeted outreach efforts, specialist support services, inclusive learning resources, accessible technology, and personalized support to ensure individuals from all backgrounds thrive in the engineering industry. 

Virtual Work Experience Program, Siemens Digital Industries 

Actively addressing underrepresentation by engaging a diverse range of students, including females, those from diverse socio-economic backgrounds, individuals with special educational needs or disabilities, and carers, breaking barriers and providing equal access to STEM opportunities. 

UKESF Scholarship Scheme, UK Electronics Skills Foundation

Promoting equality, diversity, and inclusion through supporting female applicants, providing diversity training, ensuring a safe learning environment, offering ongoing career support, and engaging in outreach activities, resulting in increased diversity, an enriched workplace culture, and high employer satisfaction. 

Training Partner Skills Champion, sponsored by EAL:   

Recognising outstanding commitment to learning and skills development that supports sustainable engineering and manufacturing growth through partnerships between providers and employers. 

Skills Bootcamp Collaboration, East Coast College  

Addressed employers' concerns by revolutionising training to focus on character traits alongside technical skills, breaking away from conventional qualifications, emphasizing collaboration, and integrating post-course employment opportunities, resulting in 67% job placement for Cohort 1 and 43% job offers for Cohort 2 within 6 weeks. 

Empowering Excellence & ECS Championing Skilled Workers, ZZEUS Training  

The training provider/employer partnership, formed in 2022 to address challenges faced by experienced workers in the fire system sector post-Grenfell Tower fire, has successfully provided meaningful qualifications, with impressive outcomes including learners completing the NVQ and gaining industry recognition. 

Gloucestershire Engineering Training  

In partnership with local SMEs, successfully addressed a skills gap in the Forest of Dean by opening a training center in September 2023, with positive outcomes such as apprentice retention, completion rates, and specialized training delivery, and future plans include expanding training offerings and community engagement to further close skills gaps in the engineering sector. 

SME Employer Skills Champion, sponsored by Innovate UK: 

Recognising outstanding commitment by an engineering or manufacturing SME employer to sustainable business improvement through learning and development.  

CBE+  

Strategically identifying and addressing a crucial skills gap, implementing comprehensive talent development initiatives, and achieving notable success, including a 100% retention rate for apprentices over the past four years, as measured through employee surveys and positive feedback, showcasing their commitment to workforce development and community engagement. 

Brandauer  

Actively addresses skills gaps by launching the UK's first Precision Tooling Academy, investing £1 million to create a commercial toolroom, and reshaping its apprenticeship approach, leading to business growth, increased turnover, numerous awards, and contributions to STEM education initiatives like The MAN Group's Design & Make Challenge. 

EMS Industries Ltd 

Joe Meakin and EMS Industries Ltd. champion skills by addressing engineering gaps through collaborative efforts, work experience programs, and apprenticeships, leading to increased recruitment and tangible outcomes, with plans to refine initiatives for sustainable skills development.

Large Employer Skills Champion, sponsored by FANUC:  

Recognising outstanding commitment by a large engineering or manufacturing employer to sustainable business improvement through learning and development.   

KMF Precision Sheet Metal Limited  

Outstanding collaborative efforts, work experience programs and apprenticeship offerings, resulting in increased and diverse recruitment, tangible outcomes, and plans for sustainable skills development. 

BAE Systems  

Showcases skills championing through meticulous gap analyses, initiatives like the Global Digital Academy and Apprentice Trailblazer groups, and technology integration, leading to significant cost savings, improved learning quality, and increased autonomy for apprentices, with future plans to integrate AI learning and expand immersive environments. 

David Smith, Siemens Digital Industries  

Excels as a skills champion by conducting thorough skills assessments, analysing job roles, and implementing innovative apprenticeship schemes tailored to industry demands, fostering continuous learning, overcoming barriers through strategic collaboration with educational institutions, and developing a highly skilled workforce for the challenges of automation technologies.

Industrial Cadets Platinum, awarded by EDT:

Recognising excellence of the emerging young talent in the UK. Finalists have all undertaken a one-year placement for hands-on industry experience in STEM.

Rocco Didio, EDT Placement Student at GSK  

Excels in chemical testing and project management. Rocco ensured the safety of patients using HIV, cancer, or respiratory drugs, while inspiring young talents in STEM through his role as a STEM Ambassador.  

Alicia Neal-Useche, EDT Placement Student at Skelly & Couch

Showcases skills in using complex engineering software like IES VE for modelling and simulations, DIALux for lighting layouts, and THERM for thermal bridging; passionate about driving sustainable design projects to contribute to a better future.

Charlotte Martin, EDT Placement Student at GSK  

Excels in impactful business improvement projects, having developed critical digital solutions during her recovery from a spinal injury at GSK, while inspiring students through her work as a STEM Ambassador.

The Best of British Engineering award sponsored by Enginuity will also be decided on the evening of the ceremony, from the individual winners of all the categories.  

We would like to thank our generous supporting partners who will also have a presence at the Enginuity Skills Awards 2024, including EDT, The Manufacturer, Siemens plc, KMF, MTC, and Kontent.ai.   

“The Enginuity Skills Awards are an important annual celebration of the people and organisations committed to developing the UK’s engineering and manufacturing skills, because the nominees inspire others,” explains Ann Watson, Chief Executive Officer of Enginuity. 

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