Nominations opened on September 1 for the eight categories including the new Technician of the Year award thanks to sponsors EngTechNow who are supporting the awards alongside fellow newcomers GetMyFirstJob and returning sponsors Atkins, Rolls-Royce, Marshall, BAE Systems, Siemens and Jaguar Land Rover. Nominations will close on November 30.
The winners of the Semta Skills Awards 2016 will be revealed at a gala awards dinner in London's Park Lane Hilton Hotel on February 10 hosted by BBC journalist, presenter and engineering advocate, Steph McGovern.
Ann Watson, CEO of Semta, the not-for-profit employer-led organisation tasked with skilling engineering and manufacturing in the UK commented: "The Semta Skills Awards celebrate the very best of British engineering, recognising the achievements of talented people and businesses which make this such an inspiring sector to work in.
"Our awards are now firmly established and previous winners have done a fantastic job in showing Britain's engineers are still the best in the World. There was no greater demonstration of this than in the recent 'Skills Olympics' WorldSkills 2015 in Sao Paulo, Brazil when no less than 10 of Semta's 12-strong Engineering Team UK winning medals – the highest in the competition's history.
"Semta represents all of the 145,800 engineering and advanced manufacturing organisations across the UK, of which more than 99% are small and medium sized companies.We know the vital role that SMEs play in terms of economic contribution and job creation, that's why we want to see more SMEs getting the recognition they deserve," Watson added.
"I would like to thank our generous sponsors for making the awards possible. Whether a large employer, SME or training provider, it is time to shout loud and proud about what you do to make Britain Great and there is no better way to do so than through entering The Semta Skills Awards 2016."
The categories in the scheme are:
•Apprentice of the Year sponsored by Atkins
•Higher Apprentice of the Year sponsored by Rolls-Royce
•Graduate of the Year sponsored by Marshall
•Skills Champion of the Year sponsored by BAE Systems
•Skills Innovation of the Year sponsored by Siemens
•Training Partner of the Year sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover
•SME Investment in Skills sponsored by Get My First Job
•Technician of the Year sponsored by EngTechNow
It's easy to nominate.
Just go to the Skill Awards website and complete the online form for the relevant category. Semta will choose a 'Best of British Engineering' from all of the winners.
