The 2025 Leeds Manufacturing Festival sees the return of the ‘next gen’ awards recognising the achievements of the sector’s next generation of manufacturing leaders and rising stars, together with best practice in training and workforce development.

Do you have an apprentice who has excelled at learning and has made a big impact in the workplace?

Is there a younger member of your team who has achieved something exceptional or made an outstanding contribution to the business?

Is there an employee who joined your business in an entry-level role but has progressed to a more senior position, supervisory or leadership role?

As an employer, are you committed to best practice and invest heavily in training and workforce development?

Then we want to hear about your staff, your company and your successes, which will be celebrated at an invitation-only awards evening to be compered by Greg Wright, business editor of the Yorkshire Post.

To nominate a member of your team in one of the four award categories, please complete the nomination form and return it no later than Monday 2nd of June 2025.

The award categories are:

Apprentice of the year: this can be for a young person who has just joined the company as an apprentice or for an existing member of staff who has signed up for an apprenticeship to develop their career.

Future manufacturing leader: for a young member of staff who has won the trust and confidence of their colleagues is making a difference as a team leader or in a supervisory / managerial role.

Rising star: for a young member of your team who has made an outstanding contribution to the business.

Employer of the year: recognising the employer that has shown outstanding commitment to training and workforce development (SEE SEPARATE APPLICATION FORM HERE) 

The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 12th of June 2025 at Leeds Beckett University with attendance by invitation only for award winners, nominees, sponsors, participants and supporters of the 2025 Leeds Manufacturing Festival.