Outstanding talent and the achievements of younger employees will be recognised and celebrated at the 2024 Leeds Manufacturing Festival awards presentation evening, taking place on Thursday 13/6/24.

The awards will be compered by Yorkshire Post business editor Greg Wright and are being hosted this year by Leeds Beckett University at The Rose Bowl, part of the university's Leeds city centre campus.

A firm festival highlight, the awards highlight the successes and achievements of younger people working in manufacturing and engineering. They also aim to promote the career opportunities the sector offers, together with the commitment of employers to training and workforce development.

Entries for the Leeds Manufacturing Festival Awards are now open, and the deadline has been extended to Friday 31/5/24, with nominations invited for ‘Apprentice of the Year’, ‘Rising Star’ and  ‘Future Manufacturing Leader’.

An award for ‘Employer of the Year’, presented for the first time in 2023 and won by textile firm AW Hainsworth, will be presented to the manufacturing business that has been outstanding in attracting and nurturing talented younger employees.

A special ‘Manufacturing Ambassador’ award will also be presented to the individual who, in the view of the judging panel, has played a key role in raising the profile of the sector.

Speaking on behalf of the Leeds Manufacturing Alliance, which organises the festival, Chris Black, managing director

of Sound Leisure, said: “Leeds Manufacturing Festival is all about attracting the next generation of talent to the sector and highlighting the fantastic career opportunities manufacturing presents.

“The awards have become a standout feature of the festival and this year’s presentation evening promises to be bigger and better than ever. We’re urging manufacturing employers to put forward younger team members that deserve recognition for their contribution to the business.”

“We also want to celebrate the great work that manufacturing employers are doing to attract and nurture young talent. A number of the city’s manufacturers have achieved ‘Excellent Employer’ status for their apprenticeship training programmes and the ‘Employer of the Year’ award pays tribute to the really positive initiatives by employers to get the very best from their people.”

“Manufacturing is a fantastic career choice and the awards will help to highlight that, along with all the other events taking place over the course of the festival.”

Nominations for ‘Apprentice of the year’, ‘Rising Star’ and ‘Future Manufacturing Leader’ can be submitted online via: https://shorturl.at/AX024

Entries for 'Employer of the Year' can submitted via: https://shorturl.at/bmpJ1

Entries must be received by Friday 31/5/24. The awards ceremony is an invitation-only event and will take place on Thursday 13/6 /24.