September 18th 2024.
On September 13, the winners of this year's Engineering Talent Awards were announced at a prestigious ceremony in London. The event aimed to recognize and celebrate the role models and innovators in the engineering and technology profession. It was a night filled with inspiring stories and remarkable achievements.
Among the winners was Kayleigh Poulter, a recent graduate of the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology. She was honored with the Award for Overall Excellence in Engineering, sponsored by Metro. Kayleigh's dedication and hard work in designing for accessibility, specifically for individuals with sensory sensitivity and neurodivergences, earned her this prestigious award.
The event was made possible through the partnership of The Agency, known for its commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, with founders EqualEngineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering. Together, they aimed to recognize and promote inclusivity and diversity in the industry. The gala awards dinner was organized by EqualEngineers, in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Engineering, Metro, RED, and AIRBUS.
The night was made even more special by the presence of keynote speakers Richard Hartley-Parkinson, Executive Editor of Metro, and Dr. Mark McBride-Wright, Founder and CEO of EqualEngineers. Richard Hartley-Parkinson gave a speech, highlighting the importance of recognizing and celebrating the achievements of those in the engineering and technology profession.
Kayleigh Poulter's journey in the engineering world began when she earned a BEng and an apprenticeship qualification at the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology. Her final year project focused on designing for accessibility, and she conducted user trials and developed recommendations to make Dyson products more inclusive. Her contributions have influenced her company's design processes, making it more accessible for everyone.
Aside from her technical work, Kayleigh has also been an advocate for diversity and inclusion. During her time at the Dyson Institute, she led initiatives such as LGBTQ+ afternoon teas and played a vital role in improving support for neurodivergent and mental health needs.
Other notable winners of the night included Matthew Walker, Technical Lead for Control of Reactivity at Rolls-Royce SMR, who won the Engineer of the Year award for his progressive work on the Emergency Boron Injection System, which has saved millions of pounds for power stations. Morgan Norcross, also from Rolls-Royce SMR, was named Engineering Apprentice of the Year for her work in promoting dialogue about menopause and enhancing support for it.
Dr. Mark McBride-Wright, founder of Equal Engineers, was also honored at the event. Rolls-Royce SMR took home three awards, including the Employee Network of the Year for their BETA - Bringing Early Talent Alive program, making them the company with the most awards of the night.
Individual awards were also given to Sarah Long of AtkinsRéalis, who was named Executive Leader of the Year, and Helen Povey from Ørsted, who won the Engineering Returner of the Year award. WSP was crowned Large Employer of the Year, while The CCTV Company Ltd. won the Small-Medium Enterprise of the Year award. Duku was recognized for their Accessible EV Charger, which was developed with the needs of elderly and disabled drivers in mind, earning them the Innovation of the Year award.
The event also gave recognition to universities, with The University of Central Lancashire receiving the Inclusion Programme of the Year award for their EASE Zone. The University of Sheffield's Women in Engineering won Society of the Year, while Swansea University's 50% for the Future in the Department of Mechanical Engineering was named University Engineering Team of the Year. Individual awards were given to Nicole Jane Knowles of the University of Warwick, who was named Engineering Staff Member of the Year, and Kailey Firmin, who was crowned Engineering Student of the Year for her outstanding work at Wrexham University. It was truly a night of celebrating excellence and innovation in the engineering and technology profession.
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