FEMALE ENGINEERS TRIUMPH ON U.N DAY

Women ‘Clean Up’ on Red Carpet

Women engineers are celebrating being the very best of British – after a glittering red-carpet ceremony in London.

As United Nations Women & Girls in Science Day dawned, (February 11th) – British women were ‘cleaning up’ at the Enginuity Skills Awards held at The Hilton Park Lane – industry’s most prestigious awards ceremony.

More women than ever before had been nominated for an award and one, Emma England, was judged to be the very ‘Best of British’.

Emma, aged 26, a Loads and Aeroelastics engineer at aerospace and defence giants Airbus Operations Ltd, Filton, Bristol, beat off strong opposition to win the most coveted award.

Emma gained a degree in Aeronautical Engineering MEng at Bristol University and recently completed the Airbus graduate scheme.

Emma said: “I have a huge amount of drive and energy to develop Airbus as a business and myself and other people around me. I have a real passion to advanced engineering as a sector.

“I have also run lessons, workshops and careers fairs at local schools. I believe that engineering is an option for everyone regardless of background or circumstance.

“When I am at schools or talking to young people I enjoy taking the time to explain the different roles and opportunities available in an engineering company like Airbus.”

Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity , the employer-led organisation tasked with skilling Britain, said: “Not long ago women cleaning up at an engineering awards ceremony – would have had different connotations.

“Maybe there are glimmers of a new dawn of diversity on the horizon.  Enginuity will continue to work tirelessly to help make this happen.

“Congratulations to Emma – she is a very worthy winner – and an icon for other young women to follow.”

Three women were presented with awards: Emma England winning Best of British & Graduate of the Year, Joanna Sharples from BAE Systems winning Higher Apprentice of the Year and Dawn Bonfield from the Women’s Engineering Society for Diversity.

Enginuity Chairman, Allan Cook CBE, told the 500 strong audience – which included captains of industry, government officials and young apprentices – that Enginuity celebrated diversity.

“This evening has more significance to the future of our nation – than the BAFTA’s or the BRITS, the Golden Globes or the Academy Awards.

“You will, I am sure, have read about the controversy at the Academy Awards about issues of diversity and inclusion.

“In engineering and advanced manufacturing we have similar issues and it is restricting our ability to survive and grow. Today in engineering we have less than 8% women; 5% from ethnic minority groups and only 10% with disabilities.

“We have to open up our workforce to a more diverse and inclusive population. I am delighted to announce this evening that there are more women nominated for an award tonight than ever before.

“Great news, a big step forward but we have a long way to go.”

Details of all the winners are below and you can also see videos of them talking about their awards.

Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Atkins

WINNER – Christopher Eckert of Packaging Automation Ltd, Knutsford, Cheshire

HIGHLY COMMENDED – Marc Cotton of Mars Chocolate, Reading

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Robyn Clark and Andy Smith of Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, Derbyshire

Higher Apprentice of the Year - sponsored by Rolls-Royce plc

WINNER - Joanne Sharples of BAE Systems plc, Preston

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Adam Davies of Airbus Operations Ltd, Broughton, Chester

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Anna Schlautmann of MBDA UK Ltd, Bolton

Graduate of the Year - sponsored by Marshall

WINNER - Emma England of Airbus Operations Ltd, Filton, Gloucestershire

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Alexander Godfrey of Lockheed Martin UK, Ampthill, Bedfordshire

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Akshay Ogale of Rolls-Royce plc, Derby

Skills Champion of the Year - sponsored by BAE Systems plc

WINNER - Martin Rigley MBE of Lindhurst Engineering, Nottingham

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Jason Andrews of Martin Manufacturing Ltd, Louth, Lincolnshire

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Jenny Conlon of KMF, Newcastle-under-Lyme

Skills Innovation of the Year - sponsored by Siemens

WINNER - KMF, Newcastle-under-Lyme HIGHLY COMMENDED - Rolls-Royce plc, Derbyshire

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, Derby

Training Partner of the Year - sponsored by Get MyFirstJob

WINNER - Babcock International, Portsmouth

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Glasgow Clyde College, Glasgow

HIGHLY COMMENDED - EEF, Coventry

Award for SME Investment in Skills - sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover

WINNER – Canal Engineering, Nottingham

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Automotive Insulations, Rugby

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Pentaxia Ltd, Derby

Technician of the Year - sponsored by EngTechNow

WINNER – Steve Green of Lockheed Martin UK, Ampthill, Bedfordshire

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Jade Aspinall of MBDA UK Ltd, Bolton

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Charlotte Hannaby-Farmer of MBDA UK Ltd, Bolton

Enginuity & WISE Diversity in Engineering award – supported by MBDA

WINNER - Dawn Bonfield of Women’s Engineering Society, Stevenage

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Inspire Young People, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire

HIGHLY COMMENDED - Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, Cambridge

Best of British Engineering

WINNER - Emma England of Airbus Operations Ltd, Filton, Gloucestershire