EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation, has launched a new awards scheme designed to reward enterprise, innovation, environmental performance and skills development amongst UK manufacturers – will you win?
By Ian Armitage
As you are painfully aware, times have never been so challenging. Trading is ever tougher and marketplaces are becoming increasingly competitive.
The new EEF Future Manufacturing Awards are your chance to stand out from the crowd and be recognised for what it describes as “outstanding achievements in everything from building skills to positive working environments, from environmental excellence to people management.”
Showcasing the best of British innovation and excellence, the awards will put UK manufacturers centre stage.
“Now is the time to mark our industry’s importance, competitiveness and ability to adapt and thrive,” says the EEF.
Areas of excellence
The EEF Future Manufacturing Awards will recognise achievements in three areas: innovation, enterprise and the environment. Awards will be granted in five regions with the regional winners, announced in November, going forward to compete for national awards in each category, plus an overall Manufacturing Achievement Award.
There will also be an apprentice award in each region, along with a national Apprentice of the Year award.
Seizing opportunity
Particular recognition will be given to companies that are successfully seizing the business opportunities presented by the fast growing market for low carbon products and services.
“With the UK’s services economy in disarray, its time for the manufacturing industry to get the recognition it deserves as the UK’s true engine of economic growth and a hot bed of innovative thinking,” says EEF’s CEO, Gilbert Toppin.
“Too many people have a negative view of manufacturing which is out of date. We’ll show them how wrong they are by drawing the country’s attention to those businesses that are breaking down barriers, reinventing the rules and reaching out for new opportunities to create a manufacturing industry this country can be proud of.”
Entry for the awards is open to all manufacturing businesses operating in the UK.
Entry forms are available from the awards website.