Staff and students from UCS College Group attended the 2026 Enginuity Skills Awards at the Park Plaza in London on Wednesday 1 July, to celebrate the exceptional individuals and organisations who are fostering the next generation of engineering and manufacturing talent.
With UCS College Group named as finalists in the Enginuity Training Provider Skills Champion of the Year, and Level 3 Pipefitting Apprentice, Megan Ellicott, named in the final three for the Advanced Level Apprentice of the Year, the team had much to celebrate, with their work as a leading skills partner for EDF and the civil and defence nuclear sectors receiving acclaim from the judges alongside invaluable sector endorsement.
Whilst they were not named winners on the night, their central role in developing the workforce needed for current and future clean energy projects in the South West and across the UK was widely recognised. Key to the Group’s success is an underlying and integral partnership approach that raises aspirations and supports social mobility by enabling local people to access careers in the nuclear and clean energy sectors.
The impact for the region is to attract major infrastructure investment, and to ensure that it translates into long‑term skills, jobs and economic benefit for local communities.
The Enginuity Skills Awards recognise the outstanding commitment of individuals and organisation to learning and skills development who – as Ann Watson, CEO of Enginuity said on the night:
Stand at the frontline of trying to save the ‘lost generation’ referred to by Alan Milburn in his recent report. Every single finalist is a star in our eyes and deserves to take a bow in the spotlight that we shine upon them.
Andy Berry CBE, CEO of UCS College Group, said:
Reaching the final stages of the Training Provider Skills Champion of the Year Award is a tremendous recognition of our staff and students’ achievements. Together, we are not only developing the specialist skills the nuclear sector needs, but also opening up life‑changing opportunities for people across Somerset and beyond.
This is exactly what our mission – transforming lives and communities through learning and partnerships – looks like in practice. I would also like to extend our warmest congratulations to Megan on her incredible apprenticeship journey – she is a superb advocate for the industry, and we know that she is destined for a brilliant and rewarding career.
Simon Brewer, Group Director for Infrastructure Projects said:
The Enginuity Skills Awards celebrate the very best in skills, innovation and partnership across the engineering and advanced manufacturing sectors, and reaching the national finals of the 2026 Awards highlights the pivotal role that UCS College Group and its partners play in supporting the UK’s clean energy transition.
Photo courtesy of Enginuity Skills Awards 2026, MPPHOTOVIDEO.