Category: Awards

Last Thursday, Sertec’s CEO Grant Adams was recognised at the inaugural GREAT100 Awards, held in Westminster—a celebration of individuals who are shaping the future of British manufacturing. This prestigious recognition highlights leaders who demonstrate resilience, innovation, and a commitment to building a stronger industrial future for Britain.

The event was more than an awards ceremony—it was an opportunity to celebrate, connect, and look ahead to the future of UK manufacturing. With Jason Pitt, CEO of Made in Group, emphasising the importance of an industrial strategy that supports the SME backbone of Britain, the evening reinforced the critical role smaller and mid-sized businesses play in driving growth and innovation.

Grant’s inclusion in this elite group reflects his decades-long dedication to advancing manufacturing, championing electrification, and fostering a people-first culture at Sertec. Under his leadership, Sertec has navigated one of the most transformative periods in its history, investing in EV technology, digital innovation, and skills development to ensure the business remains competitive and future-ready.

Speaking about the recognition, Grant said:
“It’s humbling to be acknowledged personally for this prestigious award, but it’s really testament to the Sertec team we have built. Everything we’ve achieved has been through the dedication, creativity, and resilience of our people.”

As Grant prepares to transition into the role of Chairman in January, this recognition marks a fitting tribute to his impact and legacy at Sertec. With Ben Higgins stepping into the CEO role, Sertec is poised to continue its journey of growth, sustainability, and technological advancement.

Birmingham, UK – November 2025

Sertec is proud to announce its success at the prestigious Manufacturing Excellence (MX) Awards, where the company was named Winner in the People & Skills category and recognised as a Finalist for Operational Excellence. These accolades highlight Sertec’s unwavering commitment to putting people at the heart of the business while driving world-class performance across its operations.

People First: The Core of Sertec’s Success

Winning the People & Skills Award reflects our belief that its greatest strength lies in its workforce. From innovative training programs like Bamboo LMS  to leadership development and employee-led initiatives, Sertec continues to invest in creating an environment where every individual can thrive.

“Our people are the foundation of everything we do,” said Carl Milbourne, Head of Operations SASB. “This award is a testament to the culture we’ve built. A culture that empowers, engages, and develops talent at every level.”

Operational Excellence: A Culture of Continuous Improvement

As a finalist in Operational Excellence, Sertec demonstrated its ability to combine efficiency with innovation. Through advanced technologies and a relentless focus on quality, Sertec is focused on driving and maintaining the highest standards of performance.

Looking Ahead

With electrification and sustainability driving industry transformation, Sertec remains committed to developing skills, embracing innovation, and fostering collaboration. These awards reinforce Sertec’s position as a leader in both people development and operational excellence, ensuring the company is ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead.

This award recognises organisations that champion a culture of learning, talent development, engagement, and communication. At Sertec, our DNA is built around people—their wellbeing, growth, and success. Seeing this commitment recognised on a national stage fills us with immense pride.

From apprenticeships and ECT pathways to wellbeing initiatives, charity contributions, and two-way feedback channels, Sertec demonstrated how we put people at the centre of everything we do. Our belief that people drive success shone through during the judging process.

A huge thank you to our Operations, Learning & Development, and HR teams for bringing this vision to life, and to Sertec Auto Structures Birmingham, who showcased this in action during the judges’ visit. To everyone behind the scenes who prepared materials, shared stories, and ensured our people-first approach was front and centre—thank you!

We also proudly celebrate our Sertec Aluminium Structures Tyseley team, who represented us as a finalist in the Operational Excellence category. While we didn’t take home the trophy this time, being recognised alongside industry leaders such as BMW Group, Siemens, Evtec Automotive, and ROSS Pneumatrol Ltd speaks volumes about our operational strength and commitment to continuous improvement.

This award belongs to all of us here at Sertec—because it’s all about the people.

We’re proud to share that Sertec Auto Structures Birmingham has been shortlisted as a regional finalist in the Innovation category at the prestigious Make UK Awards for the Midlands & East region.

This recognition celebrates the remarkable transformation of our Birmingham plant—driven by the dedication of our people and their commitment to advancing technologies, fostering innovation, and achieving process excellence.

Being named a finalist is a testament to the hard work, creativity, and forward-thinking mindset that defines our team. We’re thrilled to be in the running and look forward to the next stage of the awards journey.

Let’s keep pushing boundaries and shaping the future of manufacturing!

This is the first time Sertec has received this recognition, and it reflects the meaningful progress we’ve made across all four EcoVadis categories: Environment, Labour & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement. We were just shy of reaching Silver status — a result that energises our drive to keep improving and pushing forward.

Sustainability is a shared responsibility, and this award is a testament to the collective efforts of our entire team. A special thank you goes to our Sustainability Committee, whose leadership and dedication have been instrumental in driving improvements across the business.

This milestone is more than a medal — it’s a reflection of our values, our progress, and our ambition to build a more sustainable future for Sertec and the communities we serve.

A huge congratulations to James Pugh, our Apprentice of the Year, whose dedication to self-development and passion for raising the profile of apprenticeships in the industry truly set him apart. His impact on our business is inspiring, and this recognition is well deserved!

Our HSE Business Partners have also been celebrated for their people-centric approach to health, safety, and environmental initiatives. Their hard work in embedding safety into everything we do has helped drive real change across the business – and this award is a testament to that!

A massive thank you to CBM and the judging panel for this recognition – and to every member of the Sertec team who contributes daily to our mission of being an employer, customer and supplier of choice.

These awards fuel our drive to keep pushing boundaries and innovating for the future!

The Categories are:

• Apprentice of the Year
• HSE Initiative of the Year
• Employee Engagement Award

What an incredible honour it is to be recognised among such esteemed competition! It’s a testament to our dedicated teams and their unwavering commitment to continuous improvement in everything we do here at Sertec.

As we eagerly await the awards ceremony in April, we continue to celebrate the spirit of teamwork and innovation that drives us forward. Together, we are reaching for excellence!

These achievements reflect the adaptability and commitment of our people. Together, we have embraced continuous improvement and laid the groundwork for smarter, more efficient, and more connected operations.

The collaboration and teamwork across the business is a testament to the people who have worked so hard. We are delighted to have been recognised with this award, and it only drives us forward to continue to enhance our factories and to deliver the best service to our customers.

Although we didn’t get to lift the operational excellence award this time, getting to the final is a win in itself. It has been an incredible transformation of a Sertec plant these last two years and we look forward to the judges invaluable feedback.

This is not just a recognition of the progress we’ve made but also a testament to our incredible teams, who make Sertec what it is today.

The ceremony is a chance for us to celebrate our employees that have achieved 25 years of service and gives employees the opportunity to network with each other and our board of directors, while reminiscing about their time at Sertec.

In May, we held the annual ceremony to acknowledge the loyalty and dedication displayed by our employees who have shaped the business and been paramount to its success.

Congratulations to all of our employees who received an award this year. It is a fantastic achievement and something to be extremely proud of!

To read more Sertec news, visit https://www.sertec.co.uk/latest-news/ or stay up to date over on our socials: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sertec-group-holdings-ltd/

Sertec Corporation will now go head-to-head with manufacturers across the country for first place in the People & Skills category.

Britain’s top manufacturing companies have made it through to the finals of the UK’s largest and most rigorous industry awards programme: The Manufacturer MX Awards (TMMX Awards). Delivered by The Manufacturer in partnership with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), TMMX Awards have a combined heritage of over 50 years and are widely regarded as the gold standard in industry awards.

2022 has been an unprecedented year for entries with a significant number of new companies entering including Druck, Reckitt, and blood glucose monitoring manufacturer Lifescan Scotland, alongside regular participants including Gripple, The Park and Yunex Traffic – all vying to win 11 category awards, and ultimately the coveted title of Manufacturer of the Year. Also returning this year for the first time since COVID-19 restrictions have eased, is the Manufacturing in Action category where The Manufacturer team have been able to visit some of the UK’s most innovative and agile manufacturers.

The shortlist represents the true diversity of UK manufacturing, ranging from smaller companies like filter and capacitator-maker MPE, and foam converter manufacturer Foam Engineers, to the sole British producer of sugar from sugar beet, as well as medicinal cannabis, British Sugar, beverage manufacturer, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners and manufacturer and retailer of kitchens, Wren Kitchens.

Natalie Carter, Vice President of Human Resources said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this prestigious award. This is a testament to the creativity, hard work and ‘people first’ philosophy driven by the HR team and adopted by the business. We continue to build on the Sertec DNA, based on our employees’ feedback, to truly make Sertec a place that people WANT to work.“

Commenting on this year’s programme, Managing Director of The Manufacturer, Grace Gilling said: “With UK manufacturers facing unprecedented pressures from rising energy costs, a looming talent and recruitment crisis, and continued supply chain issues, it is testament to their resilience that so many companies have committed to participating in The Manufacturer MX Awards rigorous benchmarking and continuous improvement programme. This shows a deep commitment to recognise the successes of their teams, and to showcase their achievements. Now is the time to SHOUT about the amazing variety of UK manufacturing businesses – thank you, well done for making the shortlist, and good luck for the next round!”

The finalists go through to the second round of the competition, where companies in eight of the 10 categories will receive a factory visit with judges gathering first-hand evidence of the entry in action, travelling the length and the breadth of the UK. Finalists in the International Trade and Young Manufacturer categories will deliver a presentation at a judging day.

Judges include previous TMMX Awards winners, Fellows from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE), representatives from each of the High Value Manufacturing Catapult Centres (HVMC), leading academics, and industry experts.

The winners will be announced at The Manufacturer MX Awards gala dinner and ceremony on 17 November at the Exhibition Centre in Liverpool. As the culminating event of Digital Manufacturing Week 2022, the evening is always a true celebration of the best of British manufacturing and this year’s event will smash all previous records, with 900 guests set to be in attendance to fill the capacity of the venue. Rory Bremner, known impressionist and comedian, noted for his work in political satire and impressions of British public figures, is confirmed as guest speaker.