On November 26 the cream of UK manufacturing gathered in the cosmopolitan environs of the ICC in Birmingham for an evening of celebration and glamour at The Manufacturer MX Awards 2015.
The newly branded event, was originally an annual awards programme delivered by The Manufacturer, but this year the magazine joined forces with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and their Manufacturing Excellence Awards, to present TMMX Awards 2015.
The annual occasion is dedicated to encouraging and promoting competitive manufacturing in the UK, and celebrating the very best in the industry annually. It is the culmination of an intense four-month judging period, which included benchmarking site visits covering over 10,000 miles with a panel of over 40 hand-picked, experienced judges. The judges included: David Johnson, chief operating officer, Meggitt; Steve Whittle, head of Business Intelligence – Aerospace, Rolls-Royce; Jan Godsell, professor of Operations and Supply Chain Strategy, WMG, University of Warwick.
Supported by 20 industry sponsors, including Natwest, which have been supporting the event for the ninth consecutive year, the celebration attracted manufacturing business of all sizes engaged in a diverse range of activities, with 2015 seeing more than 50 manufacturing businesses represented, across 14 award categories.
The atmosphere was palpable as the finalists eagerly waited to hear if they had made the cut, but this was not before a delightful three-course dinner and some light entertainment to cut through the nerves. This came in the enchanting and hilarious shape of Dragon’s Den veteran and Reggae Reggae Sauce entrepreneur, Levi Roots, as well as, BLOODHOUND SSC’s talented leader Conor La Grue.
The announcement of the successful finalists culminated in the reveal of the winners of the prestigious Manufacturer of the Year Award 2015, which was scooped by Lambert Engineering, which also picked up the Innovation & Design, Leadership & Strategy and Customer Focus awards.
Lambert Engineering managing director Warren Limbert said: “There are some fantastic companies at the awards tonight. The fact that we have managed to win so many awards and ultimately The Manufacturer of the Year 2015 is amazing. For the people working at Lambert and the customers we serve, the hard work has been recognised and this is what UK manufacturing is all about.
“Tonight is about showing the achievement and encouraging more young people into engineering and manufacturing. So thanks very much.”
A fantastic evening was enjoyed by all, with Hennik Group CEO Nick Hussey saying, “We had almost 1000 manufacturers attend these awards, which are now by far the biggest in the sector.
“With the backing of IMechE and the increased rigour behind the entire programme, we are delighted with the calibre of the entrants, the incredible diversity of the manufacturers represented and the truly world-class companies that have won awards this evening.
“Congratulations to all the finalist and the winners, with these companies leading the charge, the future of UK manufacturing is in very safe hands.”
Prof Richard Folkson, president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, said: “A huge congratulations to all this year’s winners at the TMMX Awards. The stories behind the winning companies and individuals are truly inspirational, and are an example of how UK manufacturing is leading the way in developing cutting-edge technology, innovation and productivity.
“We are delighted to have joined forces with The Manufacturer to celebrate the very best in UK manufacturing. Manufacturing is at the heart of a healthy UK economy and these awards not only recognise outstanding achievements, but also help drive improvements in business practices of all the companies involved.”
Richard Hill, head of Automotive and Manufacturing at NatWest, headline sponsor for the event, told TM, “A big congratulations to the team at Lambert Engineering on their success at this year’s awards.
“Manufacturing remains a key focus for us and we’re delighted to be continuing our support of The Manufacturer MX Awards. The awards programme and the gala ceremony are an incredible reflection of the diversity, innovation and expertise that British manufacturing has to show.”
“Our team of manufacturing specialists, who are based across the UK, will continue to work closely with the manufacturing industry to help support and stimulate more of this great work.”
“I’d like to congratulate all the participants, and specifically the winners, for their achievements and also for their contribution to the sector as a whole.”
