Putting People, Skills and Wellbeing at the Heart of Progress
R&B Switchgear Group has been named a North West regional finalist in two categories at the Make UK Manufacturing Awards 2026: Developing Future Talent and Health, Safety & Wellbeing.
The Make UK Manufacturing Awards celebrate the achievements of manufacturers across the UK, recognising the businesses and individuals helping to drive the industry forward. The regional awards highlight excellence across a range of areas, from developing people and skills to creating positive, safe and supportive workplaces. For R&B, being recognised in both categories reflects two areas that remain an important focus across the Group: investing in the development of our people and creating a working environment where employees feel supported throughout their careers.
R&B Switchgear Group are committed to maintaining excellence by actively pursuing the ‘Excellent Employer’ accreditation every year through the ‘Engineering Apprenticeships: Best Practice Programme’.
Developing Future Talent
The Developing Future Talent category recognises the work manufacturers are doing to support the next generation of talent and develop the skills needed for the future of the industry.
Developing technical knowledge and practical experience is key to supporting the next generation of engineers and manufacturing professionals. Combining structured training with hands-on learning gives people the skills they need to build their careers and contribute to the industry’s future.
Reflecting on R&B’s approach to developing future talent, Lee Yates, Technical Training Manager, said:
“What stands out to me is R&B’s genuine commitment to investing in people for the long term. Combining structured learning with real-world experience, mentoring and hands-on learning gives apprentices and trainees the opportunity to develop their technical skills while contributing from day one. The most rewarding aspect is seeing people grow in confidence, become knowledgeable and independent, and reach milestones they may not have thought possible. Seeing them progress and knowing you’ve played a small part in supporting that journey is incredibly satisfying.”
Behind this is the ongoing work to provide employees with access to training and opportunities to continue developing their skills. As the power industry continues to evolve, so does our approach to training.
Sophie Rosak, Training and Development Administrator, commented:
“For me, seeing our first cohort of apprentices complete the Academy and progress into permanent roles has been particularly rewarding. Watching them put their learning into practice and take on greater responsibility shows the real value of investing in early careers.”
Health, Safety & Wellbeing
Being named a regional finalist for Health, Safety & Wellbeing reflects our commitment to creating a safe and supportive workplace for our people.
As R&B continues to grow, we are strengthening the resources and initiatives that support a safe and positive working environment. This includes appointing a Group HSEQ Manager, continuing to invest in health and safety training, maintaining ISO 45001 standards and introducing our Thrive365 wellbeing and retention programme. By taking a Group-wide approach, we can continue to strengthen consistency across our operations while ensuring employees have access to the right guidance, training and support.
Highlighting how this wider commitment brings together career development, workplace safety and employee wellbeing, Jo Hindle, Group HR Director, said:
“Our people are at the heart of what we do, so we want R&B to be a place where they can learn, develop and feel supported throughout their careers. That goes hand in hand with creating a working environment where health, safety and wellbeing are part of the everyday culture. Being a finalist in both categories reinforces the importance of continuing to listen to our people, invest in their development and make R&B a great place to build a career.”
Together, these two finalist positions recognise the work taking place across R&B to develop our people, support their wellbeing and create opportunities for the future. We’re proud to see these efforts recognised across the North West.
