The Queen's New Year Honours list has recognised an electric mix of figures from across the UK manufacturing industry.
The list, which was released on New Year’s Day, saw big names from industry giants such as Bombardier and Nissan, to figures at SME level honoured.
Here is a breakdown of some of the notable manufacturing industry figures awarded.
CMG
Laurent Beaudoin, chairman of aircraft manufacturer Bombardier, was awarded a CMG, becoming a companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.
Bombardier, which has a manufacturing plant in Belfast and has invested heavily in the region, recently announced a £520 million investment aimed at directly helping more than 200 industrial suppliers throughout the North and Britain.
Dr Andrew Palmer, executive vice-president of the Nissan Motor Company, was recognised for his services to the British automotive industry with a CMG.
Dr Palmer, who joined Nissan in 1991, oversees the company’s Corporate Planning, Product Planning and Programme Management in a year which also saw new investment and jobs at its Sunderland plant, the UK’s biggest car factory.
CBE
Iain Gray, chief executive of the Technology Strategy Board was awarded a CBE for services to science, technology and innovation.
Mr Gray has led TSB since its inception in 2007 following a distinguished career in the aerospace industry. As well as heading up the TSB Gray is He is a board member of Engineering UK, a Governor of the University of the West of England, a board member of sector skills council SEMTA and a board member of Energy Technologies Institute.
The TSB is responsible for ensuring the UK capitalises on its innovation and IP potential by accelerating the commercialisation of technologies and encouraging technology transfer between sectors. In recent years the body has won particular praise for its role in establishing the Catapult network in the UK.
OBE
Dr Hamid Ghafoor Mughal, director of global manufacturing at Rolls-Royce, was awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to technology, innovation and manufacturing.
Dr Mughal, who possesses over 28 years experience in the Automotive and Aerospace Industries, also sits on the supervisory board of Innovate UK and is a member of Nottingham’s University’s council.
MBE
Rachel Eade, who works as the Automotive Sector lead for the Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), was awarded the Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE).
The Birmingham-born expert has played a key role in ensuring component firms came through two MG Rover crises, the closure of Agco and Peugeot’s Ryton factories and, more recently, issues around Coventry-based London Taxi Company.
It is estimated that in her 18-year career, Rachel has helped safeguard 10,000 jobs and create in excess of 5000 new positions with expanding manufacturers. She recently led a sector focused round table debate at The Manufacturer Directors’ Conference 2013, the results of which will inform an open letter to government on the concerns and desies of industry leaders.
Hot-air balloon maker Don Cameron, founder and managing director of Cameron Balloons, has been honoured for services to design and manufacturing.
Founded in the basement of his Bristol home, the company created its first hot-air balloon in 1976 and is now the world’s largest manufacturer.
Brothers Robert and Richard Barr, joint managing directors of the Centrax group, have both been awarded the MBE.
Robert, from Torquay, has been honoured for services to aerospace and exports from the UK, while Richard, based in nearby Newton Abbott, has been honoured for services to the power generation industry and exports from the UK.
Continuing the siblings trend were sisters Helen and Lisa Tse of Chinese sauce manufacturer Sweet Mandarian, both awarded MBE’s for services to the services to the food and drink sector.
The awards cap off an excellent year for the sisters, who recently embarked on a trade visit to China with Prime Minister David Cameron which saw them sign an export deal for their products.
