Apprentices and employers shine as engineering trainer rewards excellence

SUCCESS: Winning apprentices and employers at HETA’s 2025 awards presentation night

By Rick Lyon, Co-Editor

A training organisation which has been turning out young engineers for nearly 60 years reached a fresh milestone in holding its first group-wide awards night to honour the achievements of its latest cohort.

Humberside Engineering Training Association (HETA) brought together staff and learners from its sites in Hull, Grimsby and Scunthorpe for a celebration of the technical expertise and the softer skills which the apprentices are taking into industry.

They were joined by employers, many of whom sponsored and presented the 11 awards and some who won recognition themselves for outstanding contributions.

Guests also made the most of the networking opportunities at the event at the Country Park Inn, Hessle, to meet other employers and training professionals and share endorsements for the work of HETA and its apprentices.

Andrew Jackson, technical training manager at Drax, said: “We have been sending our apprentices to HETA for three or four years. We have five there now and we will be sending another three.

“We’ve had a very good experience with HETA. They add tremendous value to our learners and for our business in the way they interact, asking employers what we want. It’s not just what they deliver, it’s what they can add for us. That’s one of the key things I like as a customer. Our opinion is valued.”

HETA was founded in Hull in 1967 as an employer-led organisation with one mission – to train and develop the next generation of engineering talent. The business has driven and embraced technological advances and produces around 250 work-ready learners every year to work in some of the UK’s most vital industries, from renewable energy and advanced manufacturing to chemical processing, engineering, and heavy industry.

Opening the awards night, HETA chief executive Iain Elliott said: “Tonight is not just about celebrating success – it’s about recognising the people who make it happen.

“For almost 60 years HETA has been built on the strength of its people. From the young apprentices taking their first steps into industry to the employers who shape their futures and the dedicated staff who support them every step of the way, our journey has always been about investing in potential and creating opportunities.

“As we celebrate the achievements of our apprentices, employers and partners this evening I want to thank you all. Your commitment to training, development and innovation is what keeps the engineering and manufacturing industries thriving. Together we are not just filling skills gaps – we are building the future.”

Ian Palmer, chair of HETA, added: “I came onto the board because I know HETA does things right and the apprentices we turn out are first-class. Hopefully this inaugural awards event will carry on year after year.”

For the first ten awards, candidates were nominated by HETA’s employers with the winners chosen by its board of trustees.

Citations repeatedly referred to such attributes as a can-do attitude, a strong work ethic, dedication to improving skills and demonstrating attention to detail.

But Karen Robinson, HR manager at AB Graphic International (ABG) at Carnaby, near Bridlington, said the reason almost all of their apprentices go to HETA is the commitment to a multi-skilled approach to apprenticeships.

Karen said: “It’s electrical and mechanical and it’s not just about technical learning, it’s behavioural development as well. They have been working on developing the curriculum around behaviour – at HETA it’s not just what they do, it’s how.

“The learners develop softer skills such as communication, working as a team. I was brought onto the HETA board to complement what they were already doing because we do in-house development training as well.

“Recently we had a session with our finance manager to promote understanding of financial wellbeing and pensions. Together we develop more rounded apprentices.”

Nominations for the Inspire award were made by HETA staff and the winner was chosen by the board for their efforts in gong over and above to support and promote, inclusivity and equality.

HETA award winners

Maintenance Apprentice of The Year sponsored by NOCN – Lacey Donnelly of Aunt Bessie’s.

Process Apprentice of the Year sponsored by Stoezle Flacenage – Joel Clarkson of Saint Gobain Glass.

Installation Apprentice of the Year sponsored by Drax – Jacob Caselton of Ockelton Electrical.

Manufacturing Apprentice of The Year sponsored by Saint Gobain Glass – Charli Egan of Daifuku Logan.

Fabrication Apprentice of The Year sponsored by ABG – Lennon Owers of Concept.

Special Recognition Award sponsored by HETA – Toby Overy of Port Equipment.

SME Mentor of the Year sponsored by KWL – Callum Holmes of Water Hydraulics.

Large Employer Mentor of the Year sponsored by HETA – Graham Maloney of Reckitt.

SME Outstanding Contribution Award sponsored by the Apprentice Employment Agency – Port Equipment.

Large Employer Outstanding Contribution sponsored by Energy & Utilities Independent Assessment Service – Reckitt.

Inspire Award sponsored by HETA – Dan Lead of Siemens Gamesa.