UK's Manufacturing Champions honoured for the first time

Employees at BAE Systems, JLR, Fujifilm, NCT Leather, PepsiCo and BAE Systems Naval Ships scooped the top prizes at a glittering awards ceremony after demonstrating they'd gone the extra mile to deliver great British-made products. Kirsty Wainwright, 28, of NCT Leather, picked up the Manufacturing Leader Award after inspiring a workforce steeped in tradition to buy in to a contemporary continuous improvement programmeat two leather tanneries. Tony McMullen, a manufacturing engineer at BAE Systems, Samlesbury, scooped the Employee-led Innovation Award after his eureka moment created a novel technique for extending the lifespan of cutting tools used in the production of F35 fighter jets. The technique could save £105m across 3,000 aircraft built. Manufacturing Champions was launched by Works Management to showcase the depth of talent working in industry and prove that manufacturing can offer a rewarding career path for young Britons. Other winners included: Richard Chambers, graduate engineer at Jaguar Land Rover- winner of the Rising Star accolade. Chambers instigated a project to switch welding equipment that has boosted operational efficiency by 47% in one production area of JLR's Halewood site. Community Champion category winner, Paul Sweeney, operations strategy co-coordinator, BAE Systems Naval Ships, Glasgow. Sweeney –the son of a Glasgow ship builder – led a community regeneration project that will link up with local schools to showcase shipbuilding as a career route to the next generation. Safe Workplace Champion Award winner- Peter Mircetic , lead superintendent - Body Construction, Jaguar Land Rover, Halewood- who launched a lineside Safety Behaviour Skills School, which has inspired over 2,000 employees at Halewood to embrace safer working practice. Scott Henniker and Eric Hitch, Digital Team Leaders at Fujifilm, Broadstairs, who won the Manufacturing Team Award after seamlessly integrating a new £3m facility at Fujifilm's Broadstairs site. And Alan Ridley, food safety specialist at PepsiCo, Peterlee, whose passion and dedication for doing an outstanding job earned him the Unsung Hero Award. Highly Commendeds went to: Samantha Day, health and safety manager at Elanders, Newcastle in the Safe Workplace Champion category; Neville Wild, surgical tool maker at Uniplex UK, Sheffield in the Unsung Hero Award and John Degnan, production director & general manager, BAE Systems Naval Ships, Glasgow in the Manufacturing Leader Award. Max Gosney, group editor at Works Management, said: "British manufacturing has been in vogue over recent years with government rhetoric about a March of the Makers and rebalancing UK plc. But the talk has largely been focussed around brands, businesses or the investment intentions of their global parent companies. "Manufacturing Champions gives the hugely talented people who power UK manufacturing success a long overdue curtain call. Our winners show the tenacity and thirst for innovation that makes the 'Made in the UK' seal so globally sought-after." Julie Madigan, chief executive of The Manufacturing Institute- headline awards sponsor- said: "Our winners demonstrate the commitment to go the extra mile to boost production quality or add value to customers that is the hallmark of UK manufacturing excellence. They are a credit to themselves, their companies and the country."