The role played by operations engineers in driving resilience and safety across the engineering sphere was celebrated at The Society of Operations Engineers (SOE) Safety and Resilience Engineering Awards 2024 on 17 October at the Thinktank, Birmingham Science Museum.
The glittering event was hosted by Roger Atkins, founder of Electric Vehicles Outlook, a board advisor to several companies, and creator of the documentary series ‘Motorsport in the Electric Age’. It was attended by more than 70 industry professionals, covering every sector of the engineering landscape.
Among the many highlights during the event, were Flavia Popescu FAPM CMgr FCMI EngTech, from Babcock International Group, who picked up two prestigious awards – Future Leader and the Helix award.
Stagecoach was also a double winner, as Peter Collins AMSOE MIRTE picked up the Road Transport Engineer of the Year award, and Stagecoach East, won People Development Champion.
Meanwhile, the Volunteer of the Year award was shared by Mike Ponsonby MSOE MIPlantE MIRTE from M. J. Ponsonby Ltd, and George Haywood EngTech FSOE FIRTE, from AO.
Engineering Company of the Year went to Bureau Technical Inspection Services, while the SOE Region of the Year was won by IRTE Ireland North, and SOE’s long-standing supporter and trustee board member Ian Macdonald was awarded an Honorary Fellowship.
During his opening keynote, SOE chair Howard Seymour said: “By celebrating excellence in these areas, the SOE Safety and Resilience in Engineering Awards not only play a role by recognising their achievements, but they also act as a key identifier and focal point for improving future delivery, by achieving safer and more resilient sustainable engineering practices.”
The SOE’s executive director Emma Thompson also celebrated the work of the professional engineers and innovative engineering businesses with which the SOE engages.
She said: “What lies at the heart of SOE is not just a commitment to standards or best practices…but a dedication to empowering the people behind these roles. It’s the engineers and technicians responsible for maintenance, operations, and safety who bring expertise, passion, and purpose to their work every single day.”
The event concluded with a closing keynote from SOE membership and professional standards lead, Robin Bates, who announced the launch of the society’s new mentoring scheme. He said that more than 70 engineers had already expressed an interest in the scheme.
“This platform will connect engineers at all stages of their careers, enabling the exchange of knowledge, experience, and support,” he said. “It offers our members a valuable opportunity to engage, learn, and grow – both personally and professionally.”
The event was sponsored by DAF Trucks, the Road Haulage Association (RHA), Beverley Bell Consulting, and the Net Zero Week 2025 and Energy Security and Green Infrastructure Week 2024, and supported by the Safety Assessment Federation, Society for the Environment and Irtec.