The Enginuity Skills Awards 2026, in partnership with Babcock, celebrate the outstanding achievements of students, apprentices, employers, educators and collaborative teams who are shaping the future of UK engineering and manufacturing. Now in their twelfth year, the awards recognise the talent, innovation and leadership that will drive one of the UK’s most strategically important sectors.

UVAC is proud to sponsor the Enginuity Alliance Collaboration Award, recognising partnerships that are making a measurable difference in tackling the skills and workforce challenges facing engineering and manufacturing. The award reflects Enginuity’s mission to ensure the sector has people with the right skills, in the right place, at the right time, enabling UK industry to remain globally competitive.

The importance of this mission cannot be overstated.

Engineering and manufacturing sit at the heart of economic growth, technological innovation, and the transition to a low-carbon economy. Yet the sector faces a significant workforce challenge. It is estimated that the UK will have a shortfall ofone million engineers by 2030, if current training rates do not increase. At the same time, the clean energy transition is creating unprecedented opportunities. Around 40,000 people are currently employed in the UK’s renewable energy sector, with that workforce expected to grow to 100,000 by 2030.

Meeting this demand requires far more than recruitment alone. It requires a long-term commitment to developing skills, widening participation and creating clear, flexible technical pathways that enable people of all ages and at every stage of their careers to progress.

Quality education is fundamental to achieving this ambition. By breaking down barriers to opportunity and ensuring access to high-quality education and training throughout life, we can strengthen workforce capability while improving individual life chances. Supporting progression into higher levels of learning and skilled employment is essential if the UK is to build the talent pipeline required for future growth.

No single organisation can achieve this alone.

Effective collaboration between education providers, employers, policymakers, researchers and industry partners is essential if we are to respond to rapidly changing workforce needs, embrace new technologies and prepare learners for the jobs of tomorrow.

This collaborative approach underpins UVAC’s work. Over the past year, UVAC has hosted a series of Innovation Exchanges, bringing together further and higher education providers, employers, researchers, policymakers and sector stakeholders to share effective practice, exchange knowledge and explore innovative solutions. These events have focused on raising standards, championing future skills and empowering learners of all ages, particularly across the Government’s IS-8 priority growth sectors, including Advanced Manufacturing.

Our most recent Innovation Exchange, held on 25 June at the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult in Blyth, demonstrated the value of partnership in action. Bringing together expertise from across education and industry, the event explored how local skills improvement planning can align with national priorities, while recognising the importance of international collaboration in delivering the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alongside developing the workforce, we must also broaden who sees engineering and manufacturing as a career for them. If we are to close the skills gap, people need to see people like themselves succeeding within the sector. Challenging stereotypes, removing barriers to opportunity and celebrating diverse role models will encourage more people to pursue rewarding careers in engineering and advanced manufacturing while strengthening innovation through diversity of thought and experience.

This is why the Enginuity Skills Awards matter. The winners, will be announced on 1 July in Westminster,  and  the awards will showcase and celebrate the individuals, employers, educators and partnerships that are making a tangible contribution to the future of UK engineering and manufacturing. Their achievements demonstrate what is possible when talent is nurtured, collaboration is embraced and innovation is supported.

As sponsor of the Enginuity Alliance Collaboration Award, UVAC is proud to celebrate those organisations that understand one simple truth: the UK’s engineering and manufacturing skills challenge will not be solved in isolation. Lasting progress depends on strong partnerships, shared ambition and collective leadership.

By working together, we can raise standards, champion future skills and create inclusive technical pathways that empower learners of every age and every level. In doing so, we will build the skilled, adaptable and diverse workforce needed to secure the future success of UK engineering and manufacturing.