Nominations are now open for apprentices and SMEs to have their contributions to skills development recognised at the 2024 Enginuity Skills Awards.
This summer will see the tenth edition of the Enginuity Skills Awards, providing innovative engineering apprentices with a chance to have their achievements recognised, and shining a well-deserved spotlight on the businesses giving them a chance to shine.
The annual ceremony is organised by Enginuity, the charity whose mission is to find new ways to close the UK’s engineering and manufacturing skills gaps. “At Enginuity, we seek to inspire and engage young people with the careers available in engineering and manufacturing,” said Ann Watson, Enginuity’s Chief Executive.
The big winner from last year’s awards was 31-year-old former teaching assistant Anisha Roberts, a mother of two who changed careers to become an apprentice at boat manufacturer Williams Jet Tenders in 2022.
Anisha doesn’t see herself as a typical apprentice, but says she always knew a hands-on approach to learning would suit her better than going to university, giving her a chance to excel. “People underestimate you,” she explained. “If I can show people that a female engineer is just as capable and competent as a male one, and start to change people’s expectations, it’ll help make it easier for other women to follow in my footsteps and make the future industry more inclusive.”
Anisha caught the attention of judges in the SME Apprentice of the Year category for her work to reduce waste and save money at Williams Jet Tenders. Her efforts included learning to make silicon bags that can be used in the construction of boats, and a project to recycle waste fibreglass into plant pots and paving for marinas. She also convinced the company to switch from using paintbrushes in their manufacturing process to more sustainable silicon baking brushes, which are reusable.
“At Enginuity, we seek to inspire and engage young people with the careers available in engineering and manufacturing.” – Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity
“Anisha Roberts is an inspiring example of how innovative thinking can help any company improve its environmental sustainability,” Ann added. “She also shows that engineering skills can open exciting opportunities at any age.”
“For my career, I just want to be able to make a difference,” Anisha said. “Engineering is so vast that you could really do anything with it.”
With SME Apprentice of the Year to her name, Anisha could already say with confidence that she has much to contribute to the engineering and manufacturing sector. However, she also went on to win the final prize of the night – The Best of British Engineering Award – the recipient of which is chosen from among the individual winners of the nine other categories.
Her wins are also a victory for William Jet Tenders, highlighting the benefits for SMEs of investing in talent and encouraging employees to pursue professional accolades. “Anisha’s personality, skillsets and technical capabilities could be seen from day one. She’s a Year 2 apprentice, but we’re already earmarking that, in the years to come, she could potentially be my replacement,” added James Counsell, Manufacturing Manager at the company.
Held in Birmingham this June, the 2024 edition of the Enginuity Skills Awards will provide even more opportunities for apprentices and employers to showcase their achievements.
The ceremony will include awards for apprentices in three new categories – Best Intermediate Level Apprentice, Best Advanced Level Apprentice and Best Graduate, Degree or Higher Level Apprentice.
There will also be a category for SME Skills Champion of the year, recognising those small to medium-sized businesses that are investing in future engineering talent. The evening will be an opportunity for apprentices, training partners and businesses of all sizes to gain recognition from the wider industry, raise employee morale, and network with hundreds of other engineering professionals.
Winners of the four apprenticeship categories this year – Graduate Degree or Higher level apprentice, Advanced level apprentice, Intermediate level apprentice and T Level student will receive a £1,000 prize, with two runners-up for each category also receiving £500.
Nominations close on February 16th, so apply today for your chance to win: enginuity.org/skills-awards-2024.
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