The Pump Centre is delighted to announce that nominations are officially open for the Young Engineer Awards 2027.
As the water industry faces evolving challenges, nurturing and celebrating fresh talent has never been more critical. These prestigious annual awards represent the ultimate platform to spotlight the extraordinary achievements of early-career engineers, apprentices, and the forward-thinking organisations that champion them.
Whether you are a manager, mentor, or senior leader looking to recognise a rising star on your team, or a young professional ready to celebrate your own hard work and dedication, the Young Engineer Awards provide the ultimate platform for industry-wide recognition.
Celebrate Engineering Excellence
The Pump Centre is deeply committed to bridging the skills gap and empowering young engineers throughout the water industry. We recognise the importance of nurturing the next generation of professionals so that the sector can continue to grow and develop.
The purpose of the Young Engineer Awards is to afford the best and brightest of our young engineers with the recognition they deserve, celebrating the achievements made in their early careers and setting them up for further future success.
Winning or nominating a colleague sends a powerful message: excellence belongs at every stage of a career.
2027 Award Categories & Criteria
We are looking for exceptional talent across three distinct categories.
- Must be 23 years old or less on March 1st, 2027.
- Must have proven engineering experience appropriate to their field of work.
- Primarily works in a workshop or field environment on hands-on engineering or maintenance tasks.
- Must be 25 years old or less on March 1st, 2027.
- Must have proven experience on engineering projects within their field.
- Spends most of their time working outside the workshop in a less hands-on role with a level of responsibility fitting a student apprentice.
- Must hold or be working towards a formal qualification in engineering or a related subject.
- Must be 30 years old or less on March 1st, 2027.
- Must possess a formal qualification in engineering or a related subject.
- Works in a professional role with technical responsibilities and experience commensurate with a professional engineer.
A Career-Defining Rewards Package
A Young Engineer Award is a powerful catalyst for professional growth. Winners don't just gain a title; they unlock a comprehensive career-development package designed to propel them to the next level.
Winners of the three main categories, along with the recipient of the special Derek Jackson Special Achievement Award, receive:
Industry Prestige : Unlimited use of the winner’s title in professional signatures and prominent feature articles in Pump Centre publications.Elite Mentoring & Network : 4 x 2-hour bespoke mentoring sessions with senior Pump Centre Consultants and an opportunity to sit on the Pump Centre Council as an Early Careers member.Professional Development : One complimentary Pump Centre training course (up to £500 value) and a £250 gift voucher.VIP Celebration : A commemorative trophy presented live in front of the industry, plus two tickets to the Water Equipment Show Conference Dinner and Awards Ceremony.Corporate Perks : The winner’s company receives rights to use the award in publicity materials and a £350 reduction on their Pump Centre membership fee for the following year.
A Look Back at the Young Engineer Awards 2026 Winners
This year, our four winners represented a diverse cross section of Pump Centre members, with engineers from parts manufacturers, water companies, and industry consultants.
“Winning the Young Engineer Awards is a representation of my whole apprenticeship so far. The award will aid my career development as it offers a lot of mentoring, which will be amazing to learn about other aspects of the industry that I'm not yet exposed to within my company. Meeting and speaking to new people throughout the whole process has been really great.”
“To put in so much hard work, and then to actually get the recognition for that hard work that you've done – the feeling is surreal. The awards help put your name out there as a young engineer who's starting your career, who wants to build a name for yourself.”
“Winning this award to me means a lot. I want to strive for better. Even for going forward in my workplace, I want to explore more opportunities, develop myself in certain areas, and gain more knowledge. I'd 100% recommend that anyone does apply. Getting yourself out there helps you develop yourself, gain more knowledge, gain more experience.”
“I think, especially for people like myself who are based in operations and those outside of capital delivery, it can be quite hard to get recognition for the projects that you can help deliver and sometimes spearhead as a young engineer. So it does mean quite a lot to me; the Young Engineer Awards is a culmination of all the hard work that I've been putting in.”
Submit Your Nomination for the Young Engineer Awards 2027!
The contributions of early-career professionals are vital to the future of the water industry. The Pump Centre accepts both employer nominations and self-nominations. We strongly encourage young professionals to advocate for their own skills, careers, and steps forward.
If you are a young engineer interested in applying for an award, the application process is quick and easy to do:
Download the Guidance : Review the full entry guidelines to ensure your submission stands out.Complete the Form : Fill out the quick online form. Applications require a nominator and an endorsement from a Pump Centre member company.The Interview : Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an online interview with our judging panel in February 2027.
The winners of the Young Engineer Awards 2027 will be presented at the Water Equipment Show 2027 Annual Dinner, where the Pump Centre celebrates the UK water industry’s brightest young engineers.