Skills charity Enginuity, the former Sector Skills Council for engineering and manufacturing, SEMTA, has received a remarkable quadruple accolade from His Majesty King Charles, marking the importance of the work it does.
CEO, Ann Watson and Trustee of the Board, Alexia Williams, have been awarded Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBEs) in His Majesty’s birthday honours, for services relating to skilling the engineering and manufacturing sector.
Deputy Chair, Dr. Ian Ritchey, has been awarded the Order of the British Empire, an OBE
Last week, it was announced that Enginuity’s Chair, Sir Jim McDonald, had been appointed to the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, the highest honour from the monarch, granted to a maximum of 16 Knights and Ladies outside of the immediate Royal Family.
Ann, an alumnus of Teesside University and whose late father was a welder at British Steel, grew up in South Bank on Teesside. She joined Enginuity Group in 1998 and was appointed as CEO in 2015.
Ann commented: “I am personally humbled and delighted to be recognised in this way, and the fact that three of my esteemed colleagues have also been honoured gives me particular pride and pleasure.
“Our work to close the skills gap, support the engineering and manufacturing sector, and ensure that young people can access rewarding and engaging career opportunities has never been more important.
“This recognition is not only a great personal honour, but also a reflection of the vital contribution our sector makes to the UK’s economy and future prosperity. I hope this triple recognition brings renewed confidence and momentum to everyone working across the engineering and manufacturing sector.”
Enginuity, funded by EAL, the specialist awarding organisation, end-point assessment organisation for the engineering and manufacturing sector, is about to unveil the first Vocational Celebration Day. Launching for the first time on Thursday, 6 August 2026, the day will bring together learners, employers, colleges and training providers to celebrate vocational careers and the opportunities they create.
Among many other things, the charity has:
- Established the Policy Centre for Supply Chain and SMEs: Powered by Enginuity, acting as the voice of SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) to government and policymakers.
- Created the Enginuity Skills Awards, now entering their 12th year, celebrating excellence in engineering and manufacturing talent.
- Funded scholarships at Teesside University to attract women in to engineering.
- Formed the Enginuity Alliance, which plays a pivotal role in supporting and representing the crucial SME cohort.
- Produces Steph on Skills: Powered by Enginuity – the skills-focused podcast presented by award-winning journalist and broadcaster Steph McGovern.
