Celebrating ethnic diversity and recognising the exceptional performance and outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in the engineering sector.

The AFBE-UK Gala & Awards night celebrates the growing diversity of engineering landscape and the contribution of companies and individuals to the industry. Entries are open to all individuals and UK-registered companies within the engineering sectors. Bringing an unmatched level of recognition in front of industry peers, the awards provide companies and individuals with a springboard for growth, as well as inspiring the next generation and the industry to keep evolving.

The gala which has been held every other year in Scotland since 2012 continues to be the premier networking event for business leaders, government officials, professionals and students of ethnic minority backgrounds, the academia and organizations promoting diversity and STEM careers. The event will begin with a networking reception where guests will be welcomed to a drinks reception. This will be followed by multicultural entertainment.

Award Categories

STEM Champion of the Year - Sponsored by Wood Plc 
This award is run by the AFBE UK with the express purpose of recognizing any individual or organization committed to championing STEM. Nomination can be made by the individual applying or a third party. This nomination should be an acknowledgement of the person or organization’s contributions and commitment to widening participation in STEM. Open to anyone working in any sector.

• Evidence of a personal interest in STEM.
• Evidence of a commitment to widening participation in it’s broadest sense within STEM.
• Evidence of innovative and creative approaches used to widen participation for young people.
• Evidence of sustainability incorporated.

Young BME Professional of the Year - Sponsored by Leonardo 

This Award is run by the AFBE-UK Scotland with the expressive purpose of encouraging and recognizing an outstanding young engineer from the BME community. This professional should be nominated by his/her company. This nomination should be an acknowledgement of this member’s impact on the company’s results. Award’s eligibility criteria are as follows:

• Engineer from BME origins employed in any field.
• Holds Bachelor and/or Master’s degree in engineering or a related field.
• Under 10 years post-graduation experience with outstanding contribution to current team’s objectives.
• Age limit 35 years

Mentor of the Year - Sponsored by the Royal Academy of Engineering  

This award recognizes the vital role mentors play in passing on their knowledge and expertise to the next generation of people in the oil and gas sector, and the extraordinary commitment of these individuals to learning and improvement across the industry.

BME Leader of the Year - Sponsored by the Royal Air Force  

This award is run by AFBE-UK Scotland with the express purpose of encouraging and recognizing an outstanding leader of BME origin.

Nominations can be made by the individual applying or a third party. This nomination should be an acknowledgment of the dynamism and impact of this leader.

Generally, with at least 10 years of experience

• Evidence of dynamism and daring to be different or challenge the status quo.
• Cutting-edge inventions, process improvements, digital innovations, or joint ventures.
• Technical or creative excellence that has been recognized internally and/or externally.
• Effective leadership contributing to, project delivery, profitability, and business development.
• Achieving success beyond immediate business objectives, expectations, or targets.
• Involvement in driving important business initiatives or tackling business issues.
• Outstanding contribution to the cultural transformation of teams or organizations.
• Evidence of significant influence on internal and/or external stakeholders.
• Unique or outstanding contributions to the relevant profession or sector.
• Evidence of exceptional motivation, purpose, and the burning desire for results.
• Notable contributions externally, including as a volunteer, advocate, and public figure.
• Anecdotal evidence that others are significantly inspired by the nominee and their business.

Company of the Year - Sponsored by  SSE Plc 

This Award is run by the AFBE-UK with the expressive purpose of encouraging and recognizing an outstanding company in the area of diversity and inclusion. Nominations can be made by the company applying, by an employee of the company, or by a third party. This nomination should be an acknowledgment of this company’s efforts to promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

• Any company can apply for this award

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: AFBE UK