Role models and innovators have been honoured at a prestigious ceremony in London for their contributions within the engineering and technology profession.
Recent graduate of the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology, Kayleigh Poulter, won the Award for Overall Excellence in Engineering at the Engineering Talent Awards 2024, sponsored by Metro.
Known for its commitment to LGBTQ+ rights, Metro.co.uk partnered with founders EqualEngineers and the Royal Academy of Engineering to help recognise those making the industry accessible to everyone.
Organised by EqualEngineers in partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, Metro, RED, and AIRBUS, the Engineering Talent Awards winners were revealed at a gala awards dinner last week.
Engineering stars of the present and future were joined by keynote speakers: Richard Hartley-Parkinson, Executive Editor of Metro and Founder and CEO of hosts EqualEngineers, Dr Mark McBride-Wright.
Kayleigh Poulter earned a BEng and an apprenticeship qualification at the Dyson Institute of Engineering and Technology.
For her final year project, Kayleigh focused on designing for accessibility, particularly for individuals with sensory sensitivity and neurodivergences. She conducted user trials and developed recommendations to make Dyson products more accessible, a contribution that has influenced her company’s design processes.
Beyond her technical work, Kayleigh has been an advocate for diversity and inclusion.
During her time at the Dyson Institute, she led initiatives like LGBTQ+ afternoon teas and played a vital role in improving support for neurodivergent and mental health needs.
Other winners included Matthew Walker, Technical Lead for Control of Reactivity at Rolls-Royce SMR, who took home the coveted Engineer of the Year prize after his progressive work of Emergency Boron Injection System (EBIS) saving in the order of £10 million per built power station.
Morgan Norcross, also of Rolls-Royce SMR won the Engineering Apprentice of the Year for her inspiration work on pushing for more dialogue about menopause and enhancing support available.
Rolls-Royce SMR dazzled again with another win in Employee Network of the Year for BETA – Bringing Early Talent Alive, bringing their total awards to three, the most of any company in attendance.
Sarah Long, of AtkinsRéalis, was named Executive Leader of the Year with the Engineering Returner of the Year being Helen Povey from Ørsted.
Elsewhere, WSP were crowned Large Employer of the year with the Small-Medium Enterprise of the year being named The CCTV Company Ltd. Innovation of the Year was awarded to Duku for their Accessible EV Charger that was developed from the ground up with elderly and disabled drivers.
Universities were given the spotlight to shine also with The University of Central Lancashire lifting the Inclusion Programme of the Year award for their EASE Zone (Entrepreneurship and Start-up for Engineers).
University of Sheffield’s Women in Engineering winning Society of the Year; University Engineering Team of the Year being named as Swansea University’s 50% for the Future in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and individual awards being given to Nicole Jane Knowles of the University of Warwick as Engineering Staff Member of the Year and Kailey Firmin was crowned Engineering Student of the Year for her work at the Wrexham University.
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