Make UK Launches Future Makers Group
Embedding young voices into the debate on skills and recruitment in manufacturing, to help shape the workforce of tomorrow
25.09.2025
Today, on National Manufacturing Day 2025, Make UK has launched a brand-new initiative – the Future Makers Group – bringing together inspirational young people from across UK manufacturing to help shape the future workforce of the sector.
Made up of regional winners of Make UK’s annual apprentice awards, the group will focus on practical steps to attract, recruit and retain young talent in manufacturing, while also championing National Manufacturing Day within their regions.
Each member will hold their place for two years, before joining a Future Makers alumni network, ensuring their expertise and insight continue to inform Make UK’s policy work for years to come.
The group will be chaired by Alexia Williams, Technical Lead at Rolls Royce, Trustee of Enginuity, Non-Executive Director of EAL, and Skills England Apprentice Panel Chair. Alexia is herself a previous Make UK apprenticeship award winner and was a panellist at Make UK’s most recent annual conference.
Young people are the future of our sector. The Future Makers Group will not only give them a platform to share their experiences and ideas, but also ensure their voices play a key role in shaping the policies that will support the next generation of manufacturers and engineers. Supported by Make UK, I’m delighted to lead this initiative, which celebrates the contribution of young people and empowers us to influence the future of manufacturing together.
At a time when UK manufacturing faces 46,000 vacancies, attracting and retaining the next generation of talent has never been more important. The Future Makers Group is an inspiring initiative that ensures young people have a direct voice in shaping the future of our sector. By listening to their experiences and ideas, we can build the framework needed to tackle skills shortages and create meaningful careers in manufacturing. Make UK is proud to support this group and to champion the vital role that young people will play in securing the sector’s long-term success.
Meet the Future Makers Group below:
Alexia Williams, 26, Technical Lead at Rolls Royce in Bristol and Chair of the Future Makers Group.
Alex Spurway, 20, Engineering Degree Apprentice at Jaguar Land Rover in Warwick.
Ben Morris, Project Leader at Caterpillar in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire.
Brandon Weeks, 27, Tooling Design Engineer at Leonardo Helicopter UK in Yeovil, Somerset.
Connor Bowen-Downes, 23, Electrical Technician at Industrial Automation and Control in Newport, South Wales.
Edie Simpson, 20, Manufacturing Data Analytics Degree Apprentice at Bentley Motors in Crewe, Cheshire.
Elias Thomas, Trainee Control Engineer at National Grid in Cardiff.
Emily Taylor, 25, Design Change Engineer at Babcock International in Plymouth.
Ethan Ridge, Apprentice Welder at The Leeds Welding Company in Leeds.
Finley Sterry, 21, Electrical/ Mechanical Fitter at Clayton Engineering in Powys, Wales.
James Colver, 34, Quality Section Manager with Caterpillar UK in Leicestershire.
Joe Williams, 20, Manufacturing Quality Engineer at Magellan Aerospace UK in Wrexham, North Wales.
Joshua Townsend, Apprentice at Knorr-Bremse Rail Systems (UK) Ltd in Wiltshire
Leo Crabtree, 23, Manufacturing Engineer at NIS Ltd in Chorley, Lancashire.
Lewis Glover, 22, Business Control Apprentice, Sony UK Technology Centre in Pencoed, South Wales
Lucy Yelland, 23, Hardware Engineer at Siemens in Manchester.
Matthew Rutter, Apprentice Maintenance Engineer at AESC in Sunderland.
Niamh Pamment, 23, Calibration and Maintenance Engineer at MBDA in Stevenage.
Olivia Jones, 26, Junior Production Supervisor at Axiom Manufacturing in Newport, South Wales.
Thomas Warr, Associate Technician at the National Composites Centre in Bristol.