Cardiff based companies and apprentices strike gold at manufacturing awards

Two Cardiff based companies have struck gold at the regional heats of a major national manufacturing awards programme organised by Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation.

The awards which recognise excellence among manufacturing companies in six categories, as well as two Apprentice categories, were presented at the Wales annual dinner of Make UK which was sponsored by Japanese IT solutions provider Hulft and Sony TEC.

Celsa Manufacturing UK was crowned regional winner in the Sustainability category with St. Mellons based Olympus, a medical manufacturer winning the Developing Future Talent award.

Celsa, the largest steel recycling company and producer of reinforced steel in the UK and who employ over 800 people in South Wales now go on to represent the region in the UK wide awards next month. Commenting on CELSA, the sustainability award winners, judges said “We were impressed with the commendable objectives the organisation have set. Judges said “Taking practical actions across the business is the dominant approach taken to date, which is seen to involve everyone and hopes to engage their competence and subject knowledge to enthuse future co-operative activity.”

Olympus, the winners in the Developing Future Talent award were chosen for specific praise by the judges who said “Olympus have demonstrated a clear goal driven purpose for in house capabilities for automation. By focusing on the skill development of existing employees they achieved both technical as well as operational impacts. Overall the advances in capability and competencies were excellent.”

Max Rochefort-Shugar, aged 22 from Sony UK TEC won the Engineering Apprentice of the Year: Rising Star Award at the Wales-wide category. Max, who has been working at Sony UK TEC for three years, is the first candidate to take part in the company’s recently established Software and Electronic Apprenticeship. Judges said “Max’s work in the growth of a brand new department that is at the forefront of new technologies is fantastic. He has helped with new ideas being introduced throughout the company using various computer languages and electronics”. Also recognised at the awards was Kiran Alias, a first year Coleg y Cymoedd apprentice from British Airways Maintenance team who was runner up in the Engineering Apprentice of the Year: Rising Star category.

Gerald Kelly, Director of Professional Services at Sony UK TEC, said: “We are delighted to be able to support the Make UK Wales dinner particularly with the Apprentice Awards celebrating their 70th Anniversary in Wales. Apprentices play a huge role in our industry and we are proud to recognise the next generation who will drive forward our sector towards a bright future. We would like to congratulate all of the winners for their well-deserved achievements and dedication to the profession.”

Commenting Russell Kirby, Senior Director, Business Development EMEA, at Hulft the sponsor of the dinner said.

“Britain is one of the world’s biggest manufacturing nations, and it is a great privilege to be working with Make UK to help support and champion UK manufacturing. The sector is facing significant change, as a result of what is being referred to as the 4th industrial revolution, and it is important that businesses are given the right opportunities to properly position themselves for the future. We are looking forward to getting out to meet Make UK’s members and being part of such an important and credible awards programme.”

All the winners will now go forward to the national finals to be judged in London in December.

Share!