Composites UK announces 2020 industry award winners

Composites UK (Berkhamsted, U.K.) has revealed the winners of its 2020 industry awards.

Entries were shortlisted in September to the top two companies/people per category.The winners are the following:

• Trainee/Apprentice of the Year – Winner: Thomas Wakefield, Teledyne CML Composites (Runner-Up – James Stewart, CCP Gransden)
• Employee of the Year – Winner: Geraint Havard, R-Tech Materials (Runner-Up – Nick Robinson, MPM Ltd.)
• Sustainability Award – Winner: Prodrive Composites (Runner-Up – Chemical Processing Services)
• Innovation in Composite Manufacture – Winner: Cygnet Texkimp (Runner-Up – CCP Gransden)
• Innovation in Composite Design – Winner: Ford Motor Co. and Partners (Runner-Up – Cecence)
• Innovation in Composite Materials – Winner: Bitrez (Runner-Up – Alvant)
• Health and Safety Award – Winner: Bitrez (Outright winner)
• Start-Up Business of the Year – Winner: iCOMAT (Outright winner)

“It was sad yet inevitable that the awards dinner would be canceled this year due to COVID-19,” says Claire Whysall, Composites UK communications manager. “However, this hasn’t stopped our industry from celebrating everything they have achieved. The amount of entries we received matched those of previous years, and the ongoing pandemic allowed us to take a step back and really enhance the marketing package the shortlisted companies receive. This package will remain in place for the 2021 awards and beyond.”

All of the companies shortlisted receive a commemorative plaque, international press coverage, a case study published on the Composites UK website and social media, details about the company/entry sent out to the Composites UK database, the opportunity to produce a video for the Association’s YouTube channel and included in a digital supplement produced by Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Magazine, which will focus solely on the awards. Those in the Innovation categories were also able to present in an online networking event on Nov. 11.

In addition, the winners will receive a physical award and the option to host one of the Association’s online member meets where they will get to talk about their business in front of other Composites UK members.

Claire adds, “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who took the time to enter this year, even knowing what we were all facing at the time. A big thank you also goes out to our sponsors — Zund UK, Pegbox Technical Recruitment, Minden Dust Extraction, Fluency Marketing, OB2B Marketing and PR, AGC Europe and Bindatex — for investing in our online activities. Finally, thank you to Phil, Simon and the team at Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Magazine for working with us to produce the digital supplement.”

The 2021 Awards Dinner will return on Nov. 3, 2021, and will take place at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, U.K., coinciding with the Advanced Engineering Show.

Case studies of all the shortlisted entries are available to download from the Composites UK website.