Humphreys, of Bolton-based MBDA Missile Systems, was hailed as an “unsung hero” of engineering and manufacturing by EAL managing director Julia Chippendale, who presented him with the award.
“Gareth lives and breathes skills training, apprenticeships and young people's progression and swears by the saying 'the best people to promote engineering and manufacturing to young people are young people themselves',” she said.
Under his stewardship MBDA has won 150 national and regional awards and 51 company awards for training and skills. On a personal note, he was a warded an MBE for his contribution to engineering and education in 2004.
Collecting the award, he said: “The highest moment for me is when you offer a young person a job and hear them scream down the phone or you bring them in and see their face – that’s what it is all about.”
The Semta Skills awards recognises individuals and organisations committed to developing skills in engineering and related industries. An industry-led panel of experts picked nine winners from a shortlist of 27.
Full list of winners:
Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Atkins
WINNER – Christopher Eckhert of Packaging Automation Ltd, Knutsford, Cheshire
RUNNERS UP -
Marc Cotton of Mars Chocolate, Reading
Robyn Clark and Andy Smith of Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, Derbyshire
Higher Apprentice of the Year - sponsored by Rolls-Royce
WINNER - Joanne Sharples of BAE Systems Ltd, London
RUNNERS UP -
Adam Davies of Airbus Operations Ltd, Wirral, Merseyside
Anna Schlautmann of MBDA UK Ltd, Bolton
Graduate of the Year - sponsored by Marshall
WINNER - Emma England of Airbus Operations Ltd, Filton, Gloucestershire
RUNNERS UP -
Alexander Godfrey of Lockheed Martin UK, Ampthill, Bedfordshire
Akshay Ogale of Rolls-Royce plc, Derby
Skills Champion of the Year - sponsored by BAE Systems
WINNER - Martin Ridgley MBE of Lindhurst Engineering, Nottingham
RUNNERS UP -
Jason Andrews of Martin Manufacturing Ltd, Louth, Lincolnshire
Jenny Conlon of KMF, Newcastle-under-Lyme
Skills Innovation of the Year - sponsored by Siemens
WINNER - KMF, Newcastle-under-Lyme
RUNNERS UP -
Rolls-Royce plc, Derbyshire
Toyota Motor Manufacturing (UK) Ltd, Derby
Training Partner of the Year - sponsored by Get MyFirstJob
WINNER - Babcock International, Portsmouth
RUNNERS UP -
Glasgow Clyde College, Glasgow
EEF, Coventry
Award for SME Investment in Skills - sponsored by Jaguar Land Rover
WINNER – Canal Engineering, Nottingham
RUNNERS UP –
Automotive Insulations, Rugby
Pentaxia Ltd, Derby
Technician of the Year - sponsored by EngTechNow
WINNER – Steve Green of Lockheed Martin UK, Ampthill, Bedfordshire
RUNNERS UP -
Jade Aspinall of MBDA UK Ltd, Bolton
Charlotte Hannaby-Farmer of MBDA UK Ltd, Bolton
Diversity in Engineering award - sponsored by MBDA UK Ltd and WISE
WINNER - Dawn Bonfield of Women’s Engineering Society, Stevenage
RUNNERS UP –
Inspire Young People Ltd, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire
Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group, Cambridge
