The Pump Centre is delighted to announce that nominations are officially open for the Young Engineer Awards 2027.
As the water industry faces evolving challenges, nurturing and celebrating fresh talent has never been more critical. These prestigious annual awards represent the ultimate platform to spotlight the extraordinary achievements of early-career engineers, apprentices, and the forward-thinking organisations that champion them.
Whether you are a manager, mentor, or senior leader looking to recognise a rising star on your team, or a young professional ready to celebrate your own hard work and dedication, the Young Engineer Awards provide the ultimate platform for industry-wide recognition.
The Pump Centre is deeply committed to bridging the skills gap and empowering young engineers throughout the water industry. We recognise the importance of nurturing the next generation of professionals so that the sector can continue to grow and develop.
The purpose of the Young Engineer Awards is to afford the best and brightest of our young engineers with the recognition they deserve, celebrating the achievements made in their early careers and setting them up for further future success.
Winning or nominating a colleague sends a powerful message: excellence belongs at every stage of a career.
We are looking for exceptional talent across three distinct categories.
Craft Apprentice
A Young Engineer Award is a powerful catalyst for professional growth. Winners don't just gain a title; they unlock a comprehensive career-development package designed to propel them to the next level.
Winners of the three main categories, along with the recipient of the special Derek Jackson Special Achievement Award, receive:
This year, our four winners represented a diverse cross section of Pump Centre members, with engineers from parts manufacturers, water companies, and industry consultants.
Samuel Miah (Rubix) - Winner of the Craft Apprentice Category
“Winning the Young Engineer Awards is a representation of my whole apprenticeship so far. The award will aid my career development as it offers a lot of mentoring, which will be amazing to learn about other aspects of the industry that I'm not yet exposed to within my company. Meeting and speaking to new people throughout the whole process has been really great.”
Niamh Aldridge (AtkinsRéalis) - Winner of the Student Apprentice Category
“To put in so much hard work, and then to actually get the recognition for that hard work that you've done – the feeling is surreal. The awards help put your name out there as a young engineer who's starting your career, who wants to build a name for yourself.”
Alex February (Mott MacDonald Bentley) - Winner of the Professional Engineer Category
“Winning this award to me means a lot. I want to strive for better. Even for going forward in my workplace, I want to explore more opportunities, develop myself in certain areas, and gain more knowledge. I'd 100% recommend that anyone does apply. Getting yourself out there helps you develop yourself, gain more knowledge, gain more experience.”
Samuel Mulrooney (United Utilities) - Winner of the Derek Jackson Special Achievement Award
“I think, especially for people like myself who are based in operations and those outside of capital delivery, it can be quite hard to get recognition for the projects that you can help deliver and sometimes spearhead as a young engineer. So it does mean quite a lot to me; the Young Engineer Awards is a culmination of all the hard work that I've been putting in.”
The contributions of early-career professionals are vital to the future of the water industry. The Pump Centre accepts both employer nominations and self-nominations. We strongly encourage young professionals to advocate for their own skills, careers, and steps forward.
If you are a young engineer interested in applying for an award, the application process is quick and easy to do:
The winners of the Young Engineer Awards 2027 will be presented at the Water Equipment Show 2027 Annual Dinner, where the Pump Centre celebrates the UK water industry’s brightest young engineers.
The Pump Centre wishes the best of luck to all applicants for Young Engineer Awards 2027.
