Talented engineers and innovative companies have been singled out as finalists of the Semta Skills Awards, which celebrate the best in British engineering. An independent industry panel of judges has whittled down hundreds of nominations for the 2017 awards to a shortlist of 27, comprising 12 companies, ten men and five women.

There are nine categories, including Apprentice of the Year, Higher Apprentice of the Year, Graduate of the Year, Skills Champion of the Year, Skills Innovation of the Year, SME Investment in Skills, Technician of the Year, Training Partner of the Year and Diversity in Engineering, as well as the overall Best in British Engineering award.

Winners will be announced at a ceremony at London’s Hilton Hotel in Park Lane on 8 March. This year’s event will be hosted by BBC Breakfast’s Steph McGovern with a keynote speech by Antony Jenkins, chair of the Institute for Apprenticeships.

Ann Watson, CEO of Semta, said: “Our industry is often guilty of not shouting about its successes. The Semta Skills Awards gives us all the chance to tell the world just how good we are, the achievements we made – which is more important than ever as the country seeks to establish new partnerships in a post-Brexit world where skills will matter even more than they do now.

“I would like to congratulate and wish all the finalists good luck, it is a real achievement to get this far.”

For more information and to see a full list of finalists, please visit Semta Skills Awards 2017