Leeds Manufacturing Festival has attracted a record number of entries for its 2026 awards, with 45 nominations submitted by 19 companies across the region.
The total has increased from 38 entries from 18 businesses last year, reflecting continued investment by local manufacturers in early-career talent. The awards ceremony will take place at Leeds Beckett University on 4 June.
Graduate of the Year and Mentor of the Year have been added as new categories, widening the awards beyond apprenticeships and early-career recognition into workplace progression and structured support. Other categories include Apprentice of the Year, Rising Star, Future Manufacturing Leader, SME and Employer of the Year, and a Manufacturing Ambassador Award.
The awards form part of the wider Leeds Manufacturing Festival, which works to improve perceptions of manufacturing and engineering careers among young people. Across the sector, employers continue to compete for technical talent while trying to show that modern manufacturing offers skilled, technology-led routes into long-term work.
“The quality and volume of entries this year has been incredibly encouraging and reflects the strength of talent coming through into the manufacturing and engineering industry across our region,” said Ben Wilson, managing director of MPM Group and spokesperson for the festival.
Employers involved in the festival report that apprentices, graduates, and younger workers are bringing fresh ideas, adopting technology quickly, and progressing into leadership roles. Those routes have become increasingly valuable as young people in other parts of the labour market face shrinking access to sustained entry-level employment.
“At the same time, there are still far too many young people who are struggling to find opportunities. With youth unemployment continuing to rise and close to a million young people nationally not in education, employment or training, there is an urgent need to show that in the manufacturing sector we can offer secure, rewarding and highly skilled careers,” Wilson said.
Outdated perceptions remain a barrier for manufacturing, despite the sector’s growing dependence on automation, digital systems, advanced materials, and high-quality technical roles. By putting apprentices, graduates, mentors, and employers on the same awards platform, the festival is giving visibility to the people already building careers in the industry.
Further information is available from Leeds Manufacturing Festival.
