Celebration and challenge

In a rousing speech MTA president, Mark Ridgway OBE, set out the new horizons that are emerging in engineering-based manufacturing and challenged his audience to explore them. He said: "If we can anticipate changes in customer needs, and in the shape of our industry, and if we can learn to manage the new complexities that these changes will present, then UK engineering really will be evolving. I believe that the future for British manufacturing is really exciting.”

Guests were entertained by comedian and impressionist Alistair McGowan before attention turned to the 2014 Manufacturing Industry Awards. These hotly contested awards saw companies and individuals rewarded for their outstanding achievement. 

The Best Training Scheme award was won by Craftsman Tools of Otley West Yorkshire and Best Supplier Partnership was swept up by Bowers and Sylvac. 

The future of the industry was recognised with the award of best young engineer to Phil Baker of CT Machine Tools and the coveted AMTRI Scholarship, which helps fund the professional development of a young design engineer, went to Adam Hazeldine of Holroyd Precision.

MTA Director General, Graham Dewhurst, received a special award for his long service to the Association.