Best of British engineering within grasp of glory

Six of the nine finalists, featured in individual categories, are female – a notable occurrence within the sector. 

Each year, the Enginuity Skills Awards celebrates the teams and individuals who inspire and empower the next generation of talent in the engineering and manufacturing sector, fostering a culture of innovation, diversity, and collaboration.

Enginuity, formerly known as Semta the sector skills council, is now a charity dedicated to closing the skills gap in British engineering and manufacturing. It previously served as a government sector skills council.

The awards will embrace a new potential ‘golden era’ of great British engineering, to enhance growth and prosperity, which will be celebrated at a glittering ceremony in the heart of London, in July.

Due to current geo-political conditions, such as the impact of Brexit and global market fluctuations, the need for highly skilled domestic engineering talent has arguably never been greater, to help maintain market share and ensure sustainable production and supply within the UK.

The Enginuity Skills Awards recognise the individuals and organisations advocating for skills excellence in engineering and manufacturing and give the sector a platform. 

The theme for event, to be held on 3^rd July 2025 is ‘Engineering and Manufacturing is the Engine of Growth’. The gala dinner will take place at the Park Plaza London Riverbank, where the winners will be announced.

Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity, which represents hundreds of engineering and advanced manufacturing organisations, from small family firms to the globally renowned brands, wants the awards to underline the true potential that the sector offers the nation.

“What a gathering of brilliant Brits awaits us. The fact that two-thirds of the individual finalists are women, fills me with joy and hope for the future. They are within the grasp of glory.”

Engineering and manufacturing are ready and able to embark on a new ‘golden age’ which will enhance productivity and output, we just need government and education to produce the catalyst to help make that happen.

“Governments and business are united in their desire for economic growth and our sector has the pent-up potential to deliver it. 

“These awards celebrate those that have excelled in all sorts of ways, extraordinary people with extraordinary stories, icons to inspire others, spread innovation, and enhance the sector in all sorts of ways.”

And the Finalists are:

Enginuity Skills Awards 2025 finalists

Advanced Level Apprentice, sponsored by BAE Systems:

Recognising an apprentice whose commitment to learning and developing skills is making a valued contribution to the workplace, making them an ideal role model to encourage others into engineering and manufacturing careers.

John Jack, Engineering Technician Apprentice, BAE Systems – Naval Ships – Glasgow, Scotland  

John is passionate about hands-on learning and problem-solving and has made a strong impact through production support, mentoring, and innovation – earning the IET Apprentice Prize. He is committed to closing the industry’s skills gap through actively promoting apprenticeships and aspires to become a Chartered Engineer.

Erin Lowe, Level 3 Electrical Apprentice, Yamazaki Mazak – Warndon, Worcestershire 

Erin is driven by a lifelong ambition to follow in her grandfather’s footsteps, a vocal advocate for women in engineering, regularly attending careers events to inspire the next generation, especially young girls, showing them that engineering is a space where they can thrive.

Lewis Macpherson, Advanced Level Apprentice, Rolls-Royce – Inchinnan, Scotland 

Lewis leads STEM outreach, and has launched peer-led mental health initiatives, and earning recognition such as Apprentice of the Year. Focusing on continuous improvement and inclusion, he aspires to become an EVP and complete a PhD, all while helping to close skills gaps across engineering and manufacturing.

Graduate, Degree, or Higher Level Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by Rolls-Royce:

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

Hannah Livingstone, Materials Engineering Degree Apprentice, Rolls-Royce – Derby, Derbyshire 

Hannah gained hands-on experience in failure investigations, improvement projects, and advanced equipment usage, leading to significant annual savings for the company. She has actively promoted apprenticeships and engineering through education outreach, leading workshops and centralising STEM activities to reach underserved communities.

Hannah Bowen-Viner, Manufacturing Degree Apprentice, Safran Landing Systems – Gloucestershire, England 

Hannah led impactful projects, including developing part protection foams and a retractable landing gear model, contributing to business improvements and outreach engagement. She is passionate about diversity in STEM, advocates for women in engineering, and supports efforts to close the skills gap through mentorship and outreach.

Katy Siegle, Digital Energy Degree Technical Apprentice, Schneider Electric - Telford, Shropshire 

Katy developed technical skills and a deep understanding of energy management, making significant contributions to reducing energy costs and improving operational efficiency. She is passionate about bridging the skills gap by actively promoting apprenticeships, supports education-business collaboration, and aspires to a leadership role in sustainable energy solutions.

T Level Student, sponsored by Eduqas and EAL:

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. 

Mohammed Mahmood, T Level Student, Newcastle and Stafford College Group – Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 

From conflict and displacement to engineering success, Mahmood has used a T Level in Building Services Engineering to gain hands-on experience and overcome language and cultural barriers. Now with offers for university and a degree apprenticeship, he is committed to inspiring others and supporting a more inclusive engineering workforce.

Molly Lloyd, T Level Engineering and Manufacturing Student, Newcastle and Stafford College Group – Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire 

Molly developed strong hands-on skills in welding, machining, and maintenance. Once lacking confidence, she’s grown into a proactive problem-solver, student representative, and advocate for T Levels – now set on a future in mechanical engineering and committed to inspiring the next generation.

Lemeah Simpson, Apprentice, T Level Engineering Student at Solihull University & College Centre 

As a female in a male-dominated field, she’s overcome self-doubt to become a role model for others, actively promoting T Levels in the media and online. She has an ambition to move into automotive design and support more young people – especially women – into engineering careers. 

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. 

UWE Bristol

UWE Bristol began delivering Degree Apprenticeships in 2017/18, addressing skills gaps in engineering, construction, and digital sectors, with a focus on increasing diversity. Their ‘Women in Industry’ project, launched in 2023, successfully combats gender underrepresentation by creating partnerships with employers, mentoring programmes, and outreach initiatives.

Centre for Advanced Timber Technology, New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering

Through strong partnerships with industry leaders and academic institutions, CATT delivers innovative training programs like the Enhanced Retrofit Fabric Improvement Training (ERFIT) course. Focused on sustainability and diversity, CATT equips professionals with the skills needed for a net-zero built environment, driving growth, and innovation in engineering and manufacturing.

MTC Training & Amazon RME, MTC Training

MTC Training has developed a strategic partnership with Amazon to deliver a tailored apprenticeship programme, addressing skills gaps and ensuring consistent, high-quality training across all locations. Through innovative solutions like a pre-apprenticeship scheme, mentoring courses, and dedicated EPA support, they’ve created a model that drives growth and sustainability in the engineering and manufacturing sectors.

SME Employer Skills Champion, sponsored by The National Network of Institutes of Technology:

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

Useful Simple Trust

Through targeted training programmes and industry partnerships, demonstrating outstanding commitment to sustainable business improvement, aligning with Enginuity's mission to close engineering and manufacturing skills gaps.

Reliance Precision

Through investments in training, site visits, and soft skills workshops, the company has enhanced its apprenticeship programme, fostering a skilled, diverse workforce while promoting engineering to young people.

DePe Gear

DePe Gear mentorship programme and specialised CNC training have led to improved productivity and reduced errors. With plans to expand training opportunities and collaborate with Enginuity to support the development of the next generation of engineers.

Large employer skills champion

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

Biffa Engineering Apprentice Programme

By launching a world-class apprenticeship programme, focusing on diversity and future needs, the company significantly improved retention and diverse apprentice intake, gaining positive feedback from both training providers and site teams.

Xtrac

Successfully enhanced an established apprenticeship programme to include higher-level qualifications and a dedicated training academy. Also supporting STEM education through outreach and work experience programmes, helping to close the engineering skills gap.

Kilnbridge 

Kilnbridge is a large and complex organisation, with four in-house businesses delivering specialist structural solutions and engineering services across multiple sectors. The company is determined to address the identified talent gap and has implemented a comprehensive strategy focused on education, training, and recruitment.

New Talent Inspiration Programme of the Year, sponsored by Biffa:

Recognising a programme that has used innovative or different means to successfully attract new talent into the engineering and manufacturing sector.

Empowering NEET young people to choose engineering as a career, Engineered Learning

Offering practical, accredited training and supporting vulnerable young people, the programme has successfully empowered participants to gain industry-relevant skills, which has led to further funding to expand the initiative and reach more young people in need.

Cornwall Manufacturing Group Academy

A collaboration between CMG, Cornwall College, and local schools, provides students with industry-aligned education combining classroom learning and hands-on experience. With national recognition and expansion across two campuses, the programme is helping to create a sustainable workforce.

Citizen Hub St Neots CIC

The Citizen Hub successfully connects local communities with skills development and job opportunities in engineering and manufacturing through a collaborative, community-led approach. Creating a sustainable talent pipeline, this initiative has gained national recognition for its impact.

The Enginuity Alliance Collaboration Award, sponsored by Innovate UK:

Recognising powerful alliances and collaborations that address the core challenges in engineering and manufacturing (or problem statements) that guide Enginuity’s work.

The Aspire Shared Apprenticeship Programme

Implemented an innovative shared apprenticeship model, providing apprentices with diverse work experiences across multiple employers, while supporting the growth of an inclusive and sustainable engineering workforce.

Ayrshire College and XLCC – addressing the green skills challenge, Ayrshire Council

Addressing the skills gap in Scotland’s renewable energy sector by partnering with XLCC to develop a bespoke apprenticeship programme. Their innovative approach, including staff upskilling and collaboration with industry experts, has created valuable employment opportunities and is driving long-term growth in the renewable energy workforce.

Fusion Skills Council, UK Atomic Energy Authority

A strategic partnership formed to address the skills gap in the UK fusion sector. Through collaboration, this council developed the FOSTER programme, which focuses on deepening and widening the talent pool, raising awareness of fusion careers, and enhancing sector-wide community cohesion to ensure a skilled workforce for the fusion energy industry.

Raising competence through ECS collaboration, Joint Industry Board

Played a pivotal role in raising competence standards within the fire and security systems sector. Through collaborative efforts, the group developed tailored qualification routes to ensure that both new and experienced professionals meet industry-required standards.

The coveted Best of British Award (selected from winners of the above.

Winners of the individual learner categories (Graduate Degree or Higher-Level Apprentice, Advanced Level Apprentice) and the T Level Student category will receive a £1,000 prize, with two runners-up for each category receiving £500.