Celebrating outstanding talent at the Enginuity Skills Awards 2026

The National Network of Institutes of Technology was proud to support this year’s Enginuity Skills Awards, celebrating the people and organisations helping to build the future of the UK’s engineering and manufacturing workforce.

Held on Wednesday 1 July at Park Plaza London Westminster Bridge, the awards brought together apprentices, students, employers, training providers and sector leaders from across the UK. Now in their 12th year, the awards recognise the exceptional individuals and organisations empowering the next generation of talent, and fostering a culture of innovation, diversity and collaboration across engineering and manufacturing.

The National Network of Institutes of Technology was delighted to sponsor the Graduate, Degree or Higher-Level Apprentice of the Year award. This category recognises the success of an apprentice whose commitment, innovative thinking and skills are making a valued contribution to their workplace and the wider engineering and manufacturing sector.

The award was presented by Darran Marks, Operations Director at Greater Birmingham and Solihull Institute of Technology, to Lucy Yelland, Automation Engineer Degree Apprentice at Siemens.

Lucy was recognised for combining academic excellence with real business impact, demonstrating technical ability, leadership and resilience through fault diagnosis, project delivery, mentoring and outreach. Her success, including her achievements in WorldSkills competition, reflects the value of high-quality technical education, apprenticeships and strong employer partnerships in helping people develop the skills, confidence and experience needed to thrive.

The National Network of Institutes of Technology congratulates all of the winners and finalists recognised at this year’s awards, and looks forward to continuing to champion the people and partnerships delivering higher technical skills across the country.

Institutes of Technology are a national network stretching from Truro to Tyneside, collectively comprising over 80 further education colleges, 30 universities, and 100 employer partners. Our mission is to equip individuals with the advanced technical skills that drive innovation and meet employers’ evolving needs.

To get in touch with your local Institute of Technology, see our Find an IoT page.