PEOPLE WATCH
2024 Enginuity skills awards winners
Wednesday 5th June saw leaders from across the UK ’ s engineering and manufacturing sector gather at the 10th Annual Enginuity Skills Awards to celebrate UK engineering and manufacturing talent and the organisations championing skills development in the UK .
Run by Enginuity , the charity dedicated to closing skills gaps in UK engineering and manufacturing , the ceremony was hosted in Birmingham by Honorary Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and award-winning broadcaster , Steph McGovern , at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole next to the National Exhibition Centre ( NEC ) during ‘ Smart Manufacturing and Engineering Week ’. The ceremony was attended by West Midlands Deputy Lieutenant , Professor Sir Nigel Thrift .
Jamie Clarke , a maintenance apprentice at LISI Aerospace Rugby , picked up not only the ‘ Advanced Level Apprentice of the Year ’ trophy but also the biggest prize of the evening , the ‘ Best of British Engineering Award ’. He has overcome challenges such as dyslexia and health issues to pursue his dream of becoming an engineer .
Yusuf Mumtaz , Jaguar Land Rover , won the ‘ Graduate , Degree or Higher-Level
Jamie Clarke at the 10th Annual Enginuity Skills Awards .
Apprentice of the Year ’ award ( sponsored by Teesside University ). The ‘ T-Level Student of the Year ’ award , sponsored by BAE Systems , went to Elliot Barton of Barnsley College . Siemens ’ : Virtual Work Experience Programme won the ‘ Equality , Diversity & Inclusion Award ’ ( sponsored by Rolls-Royce ).
The Siemens ’ programme addresses under-representation by engaging a diverse range of students , including females , those from diverse socio-economic backgrounds , individuals with special educational needs or disabilities , and carers .
Gloucestershire Engineering Training , who successfully addressed a skills gap in the Forest of Dean by opening a training centre in September 2023 , won the ‘ Training
Partner Skills Champion of the Year ’ award ( sponsored by EAL ). Brandauer was awarded the ‘ SME Employer Skills Champion of the Year ’ award ( sponsored by Innovate UK ). Brandauer launched the UK ’ s first Precision Tooling Academy to ensure the transfer of essential skills from an ageing workforce to a younger generation . It has invested £ 1 million to create a commercial toolroom and reshaped its apprenticeship approach , contributing to business growth and increased turnover .
The ‘ Large Employer Skills Champion of the Year ’— sponsored by FANUC — went to KMF Precision Sheet Metal Limited for its collaborative efforts , work experience programmes and apprenticeship offerings . In 2010 , KMF set up a ‘ Young Engineer of the Year ’ programme working with Year 10 students across all the high schools in Stokeon-Trent , UK . Over the past 14 years , it has worked with more than 25,000 young people while investing over £ 1 million into STEM projects and equipment for schools .
Other supporting partners of the awards include EDT ; The Manufacturer ; Siemens plc ; KMF ; Manufacturing Technology Centre and Kontent . ai . n
Management changes at Mercedes-Benz Group
At the Mercedes-Benz Group AG Annual General Meeting for the financial year 2023 , Dr . Bernd Pischetsrieder stepped down after a decades-long career in the automotive industry . He was , for many years , a Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG and then Chairman of its Board of Management from 1993 to 2000 .
After moving to Volkswagen AG , he was also Chairman of the Board of Management there from 2002 to 2006 . He has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes- Benz Group AG since 2014 , advising the management board on key strategic steps which included the spin-off of Daimler Truck AG and the rebranding of Daimler AG into Mercedes-Benz Group AG .
Following his re-election to the Supervisory Board a year before the end of his term , Dr . Martin Brudermüller was elected to succeed Bernd Pischetsrieder as Chairman of the Supervisory Board .
“ Careers like Dr . Bernd Pischetsrieder ’ s are rare . He worked at the top of all the large German automotive companies and the Board of Management benefited from his wealth of experience and strategic vision . For me
personally , it was a privilege to have him at my side as an advisor . Thank you for everything you have done for Mercedes-Benz . Dr . Bernd Pischetsrieder is leaving his successor , Dr . Martin Brudermüller , a company that is very well positioned for the future ,” said Ola Källenius , Chief Executive Officer , Mercedes- Benz Group AG .
Since 2019 , Mercedes-Benz has delivered structurally improved profitability , thanks to a sharpened focus on desirable cars and vans combined with stringent cost management . This has resulted in Mercedes-Benz Group more than doubling shareholder returns and outperforming the DAX and STOXX 600 .
“ I am taking over as Chairman of the Supervisory Board at a time of fundamental change in the auto industry . I am an optimist by nature and I believe in the possibilities and abilities that lie within this company and its employees . What I bring to the table are enthusiasm and a willingness to listen ; this is particularly important to me in regard to our workforce , as is steadfastness , even when things get difficult ,” confirmed Dr . Martin Brudermüller , Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG .
Dr . Doris Höpke , former Member of the Board of Management of Munich Re , was also newly elected to the Supervisory Board .
“ The efforts of the management and Supervisory Board are paying off : the company is well positioned . The product portfolio is strong and is becoming increasingly electric and digital . At the same time , the transformation of the company is being driven forward and the strategy is being implemented by a great team ,” added Dr . Bernd Pischetsrieder , outgoing Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Mercedes-Benz Group AG . n https :// group . mercedes-benz . com / en /
10 | ismr . net | ISMR July / August 2024