South Regional Dinner
Thursday 13 November 2025
DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol South Cadbury House
Congratulations to our Regional Runners Up and Winners
Business categories
Business Growth and Strategy
Winner: Lionel Hitchen Ltd
Runner up: Alideck
Developing Future Talent
Winner: Cornwall Manufacturers Group
Runner up: Russell Finex
Energy and Sustainability sponsored by Inspired PLC
Winner: Safran Helicopter Engines UK
Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Winner: Unipart
Runner up: Element Six
Innovation sponsored by ECI
Winner: VES – AirDoor
Runner up: Sertus
Manufacturing Impact
Winner: Sertus
Runner up: Bridmet Ltd
SME of the Region
Winner: Lionel Hitchen Ltd
Runner up: Grommets Ltd
Apprentice categories
Business Apprentice Rising Star sponsored by Sage
Winner: Tobie Parsons, Airbus Operations
Runner up: Joanne Rosinski, Cleanova
Business Apprentice Final Year sponsored by Sage
Winner: Eryn Weatherhill, Leonardo Helicopters UK
Engineering Apprentice Rising Star sponsored by Advanced Engineering
Winner: Nathan Powell, Bott Ltd
Runner up: Benjamin Roden, Airbus Operations
Engineering Apprentice Final Year sponsored by Advanced Engineering
Winner: Amber-Louise Hart, Leonardo Helicopters UK
Runner up: Felix Loy, Leonardo Helicopters UK
Apprentice Endeavour Award
Winner: Lauren Owen, Comserv (UK) Ltd
Runner up: Nathan Powditch, BAE Systems
About this event
We were delighted to host this in-person awards event on
Thursday 13 November
in the South Region at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol South Cadbury House.
The Regional Dinner provided an opportunity to network with peers at an arrival drinks reception, create new business connections during a three-course meal, and hear from our inspiring speaker, Ellie Driver.
Thank you for joining us as we honoured and recognised the region’s incredible makers, innovators, and leaders within the sector.
Dress code: Professional evening attire
As a guide, business suits and dresses are an example of professional evening attire. Black tie and formal jackets and gowns are not required.
Date:
Thursday 13 November 2025
Start time:
6.30pm
End time: Midnight
Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol South Cadbury House, Frost Hill, Congresbury, Bristol, BS49 5AD
Accommodation:
If you would like to book accommodation at the DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol South Cadbury House, please call the hotel reservations team on 01934 834 343 and select Option 2. When you book, please quote Make UK to the Reception Team for a special rate of £119.00 + VAT per room per night for bed and breakfast.
There are limited bedrooms available at this rate, and any unsold rooms will be released on Thursday 18 September 2025.
Congratulations to our 2025 Awards Shortlist
AIS
Airbus
Airbus Operations
AJ Wells and Sons Ltd
Alideck
BAE Systems
Bott Ltd
Bridmet Ltd
ChamSys Ltd
City College Plymouth
Cleanova
Comserv (UK) Ltd
Cornwall Manufacturers Group
Element Six
European Springs and Pressings Ltd
G&B Electronic Designs Ltd
GAMBICA
Grommets Ltd
Harrisons
Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems UK&I
Leonardo Helicopters UK
Leonardo UK
Lionel Hitchen Ltd
NCC
Oxford Instruments
Russell Finex
Safran Helicopter Engines UK
Sertus
Stratasys
Talon Manufacturing Ltd
Unipart
VES
VES – AirDoor
William Hare
Wozair Limited
Bookings have closed for this dinner
Please contact the Make UK Events Team via awards@makeuk.org if you have any queries.
Dinner speaker: Ellie Driver
Ellie Driver is a 23-year-old elite British offshore sailor and accomplished STEM professional, combining world-class sporting performance with engineering excellence. A graduate of the University of Southampton with a Masters in Maritime Engineering (MEng), she works as a Naval Architect at SR Structures while pursuing her goal of competing in the Vendée Globe.
Ellie’s competitive record is exceptional. She is the Vice World Offshore Double-Handed Mixed Champion (2023), Women’s Offshore Double-Handed European Champion (2023), and runner-up in the Défi Paprec (2024). In the Rolex Fastnet Race 2023 she finished second both as Female Skipper and Youth Skipper, and in 2022 she was named Yachts & Yachting ‘Sailor of the Year’ after becoming the youngest skipper ever to contest the SEVENSTAR Round Britain and Ireland Race.
Her campaign extends well beyond the racecourse. Ellie leads STEM on the Start Line, a dynamic outreach programme run with the Women’s Engineering Society. Through inspiring webinars and hands-on workshops, she uses offshore sailing to demonstrate how science, technology, engineering, and maths translate into real-world challenges and opportunities. Partnering with Ellie Driver Racing offers brands a powerful platform: elite performance, innovative engineering, and authentic engagement with the next generation of women in STEM.
Join us at the South Regional Dinner to hear from Ellie Driver – charting her first solo Figaro campaign and showing young people how STEM drives performance on and off the water.