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Cotswold Life EMI Awards Winners 2016

PUBLISHED: 16:49 23 September 2016 | UPDATED: 09:13 26 September 2016

Cotswold Life EMI Awards winners 2016

Archant

Over 450 joined us at Cheltenham Racecourse, flying the flag for regional manufacturing, engineering and innovation excellence, at the second Cotswold Life Engineering Manufacturing Innovation Awards

The Cotswold Life EMI Awards celebrates a thriving industry across Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Wiltshire and Worcestershire. There is no other single awards ceremony that comprehensively celebrates and showcases the diversity of manufacturing in the Cotswolds. Representatives from some of the largest national manufacturing and engineering support organisations joined us to showcase the breadth and depth of innovation and skills here

The 2016 awards evening got off to a fantastic start when over 450 guests entered the room to see an aeroplane suspended high above the dinner tables. The incredible Electroflight P1, based at Stroud, has been designed by a team led by Roger Targett and is powered by high performance electric motors. Designed to set world records for an electric aircraft the Electroflight P1 is showcasing true engineering ambition demonstrating future potential for “green energy” aircraft design.

The second highlight of the evening was keynote speaker Lord Paul Drayson whose inspirational speech celebrated the Cotswold’s as a hotbed of design and manufacturing capability. Lord Drayson has developed successful businesses in food manufacturing, bioscience and motorsport research and development, and served as a Minister in the British Government, first in the Department of Defence and then in Science and Innovation.

Each of the 100 Awards entries offered an impressive insight into what’s really going on across the sector. Manufacturing is embedded in this region. It employs and trains tens of thousands and offers fantastic opportunities to anyone with ambition and drive. All the 2016 finalists and winners showcased manufacturing brilliance and collective ambition. The judging panel were impressed with the quality of nominations and the truly inspiring innovation happening within Cotswold companies.

Compèred by the BBC’s Business Correspondent for the South West, Dave Harvey, 36 finalists were present at the awards evening alongside guests and representatives from most of the UK’s most prominent manufacturing and business support organisations. These included WMG, Innovate UK,The Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), The Institute of Engineering and Technology (IET), SWMAS, IOD, Catapult, UKTI and many more. The awards programme was hugely supported by Cotswold businesses, including headline sponsor BPE Solicitors, associate sponsor Lloyds Banking Group and event partner Oasis Events.

AND THE WINNERS ARE:

Sustainable Manufacturing Award