As UK manufacturing grapples with an ageing workforce and intensifying global competition, the question of skills has never been more pressing. For precision engineering specialist ANT Industries, National Apprenticeship Week offers a timely opportunity to spotlight how sustained investment in young talent is shaping the long-term resilience of British industry.
That commitment has been brought into sharp focus by the latest cohort of ANT Industries apprentices, including the recent success of apprentice engineer Hannah Naylor, who has been recognised by the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) with its prestigious Extra Mile Award for Outstanding Performance. The accolade recognises exceptional dedication, technical development and contribution to live engineering projects at ANT’s Atherstone facility.
For Managing Director Shaun Rowley, Hannah’s achievement is a big deal.
“We are incredibly proud of Hannah and the recognition she has received from the MTC,” Rowley says. “Her work ethic, technical curiosity and commitment to quality embody everything we stand for at ANT. Developing young engineers like Hannah is essential to securing the future of our industry.”
The timing is significant. Hannah’s award comes as the UK government announces a major expansion in youth apprenticeships, with plans to create 50,000 new places over the next three years. The initiative aims to reverse declining participation in technical careers by removing apprenticeship contributions for under-25s and expanding access across engineering, automation and advanced manufacturing.
Rowley believes the renewed focus aligns closely with the realities of the aerospace and gas-turbine supply chain.
“The country is crying out for skilled engineers,” he says. “Companies like ours depend on a strong talent pipeline. Government support is welcome, but it’s businesses on the ground that must nurture, train and inspire young people. Hannah is proof of what’s possible when that support is real and sustained.”
ANT Industries has long positioned apprenticeships as a strategic investment rather than a short-term workforce solution. Through structured training pathways, graduate development and close collaboration with organisations such as the MTC, the company ensures early-career engineers gain exposure to advanced machining, continuous improvement and the quality standards demanded by aerospace customers.
Hannah’s journey reflects that approach. Joining ANT with a passion for hands-on engineering, she has progressed rapidly—supporting machining processes, contributing to improvement initiatives and demonstrating the resilience and initiative that earned her industry-wide recognition.
“Young engineers bring energy, fresh thinking and digital confidence into our business,” Rowley adds. “If UK manufacturing is to remain globally competitive, we must invest in them. Hannah’s award isn’t just a personal milestone—it’s a reminder of how vital this investment really is.”
As National Apprenticeship Week puts skills, opportunity and industrial capability firmly in the spotlight, ANT Industries’ experience underscores a clear message: building the next generation of engineers is not only a social good, but a commercial necessity—and one that continues to pay dividends for the UK’s advanced manufacturing sector.