The Pump Centre talks to Young Engineer Awards past winner Mellish Kett, recipient of the Professional Award in 2009, to find out how winning this prestigious award aided his career progression.
With the nominations for the Young Engineer Awards 2026 now open, the Pump Centre is catching up with previous winners to celebrate their professional and personal accomplishments in the engineering industry.
Mellish Kett was the first person ever to receive a Young Engineer Award from the Pump Centre in the Professional category all the way back in 2009. Then a recent graduate working as a Solutions Engineer at Severn Trent Water, Mellish’s career journey has taken him across the engineering industry from water to the energy sector. Now, Mellish looks back on the past 16 years to reflect on his achievements since winning his award, and how the water sector can help nurture the next generation of industry professionals.
What is your current role?
After a long career in the water industry, I am now working for EDF Energy at Sizewell B power station as the Sizewell C interface Group Head. My team supports the construction of the new Sizewell C power station while ensuring we maintain the safe, reliable operation of Sizewell B power station. This is a challenging and fascinating role as we juggle the pressures of a major construction project and ensure the nuclear safety of an operational power station.
What did winning the Young Engineer Awards mean to you 2009?
Winning the Professional category was a great recognition at that point in my career. It marked my transition from a graduate engineer and showed I had progressed and developed. I guess you always hope you are doing well, but this really brought it home thanks to that recognition.
In what ways do you feel winning the Young Engineer Awards helped you achieve your professional goals?
It was very interesting as winning did open up opportunities for me that I was not expecting at all. After winning, I was asked to join the Fluid Machinery Group of the Institute of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) as their Young Member Representative. This was a great chance to be part of the working of the IMechE, and helped me to progress to Chartered Engineer status with the IMechE. Being Chartered no doubt helped me to gain a role as an engineer at Sizewell B power station, and the further roles I have had since. It is often strange how these opportunities come from just putting yourself forward for something.
How has your career path evolved since winning the Young Engineer Awards?
The biggest change in my career following winning was my move from the water industry to the nuclear industry. I suspect that lots of people who change industries say the same thing, that although there are lots of differences to learn, there are also lots of similarities. Being new to an industry also gives you the chance to question and challenge things based on your different experience.
What advice would you give to young engineers early in their careers and aspiring to make an impact in the water industry?
Take opportunities! The more opportunities you take, the more options become open to you - you never know where they might lead you in the future.
What have been your career highlights since winning the Young Engineer Awards?
Becoming a Charted Engineer with the IMechE. Similar to winning the Young Engineer Award, it was great to have this recognition of how I had progressed as an engineer.
You now hold a senior position in your current role. How do you support the current young engineers within your team and within the industry?
Like my advice to take opportunities, I do my best to provide those opportunities to young engineers. I always look for the potential in people rather than just their experience. People who show enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and a curiosity in the world around them will always make the best engineers. It is great as a leader to believe in someone’s ability, give them the opportunities, and then see them prove themselves and exceed their own expectations.
Nominations for the Young Engineer Awards 2026 are now open. Submit your application before 31st October 2025 to join the Young Engineer Awards roll of honour alongside Mellish and many more exceptional engineers. The Pump Centre wishes all applicants the best of luck!