Institution Members recognised at Jaguar Land Rover’s Technical Excellence Awards

Each year, Jaguar Land Rover recognises the high achievements of its engineers and technicians in an awards ceremony at its Design Showroom at Gaydon.

The eighth annual technical excellence event was held in December 2013, organised by Jo Lopes CEng FIET FIMechE, Head of Technical Excellence at Jaguar Land Rover. It celebrated a year of professional achievements for around 170 employees and presentations were made by, among others, President of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Patrick Kniveton CEng FIMechE FIET. The event honours technical achievements in a range of functional areas and specialisms, as well as professional accreditation and exemplary individual contributions.

Key-note speaker at the event was Philip Greenish CBE CEng FIET Chief Executive, The Royal Academy of Engineering. Professor Richard Parry Jones CBE FREng FIMechE Co-chairman Automotive Council delivered a presentation.

Patrick Kniveton spoke of the special relationship between the Institution and Jaguar Land Rover. The company celebrated its diverse and highly motivated workforce, and its growing connections with engineering institutions, noting that 149 graduates in 2013 signed up to being mentored towards professional registration.

Jo Lopes commented: “At Jaguar Land Rover we have an excellent relationship with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, and the Institution has always been a keen supporter of this event. One of the company’s strengths is in the way people take responsibility for their professional development, and the company actively encourages professional registration. The Institution features very prominently within our organisation, and we receive excellent support from its representatives, with regular workshops and surgeries. We support Formula Student annually as well, and are strongly linked with a number of the Institution’s other events.”

Patrick presented the award for 2013 IMechE Mentor of the Year to Simon Batt CEng MIMechE and Dr Kieron Eatough CEng MIMechE. They were recognised for their great assistance to, and encouragement of colleagues, one of whom commented: “Not only has his support been useful for the Institution scheme, but also my wider development within the company.”

Many of those honoured had become Chartered Engineers with the Institution of Mechanical Engineers; and three people who had newly become Fellows of the Institution included Jo Lopes himself. The Institution congratulates the many newly registered CEng and IEng Members.

Jo commented: “Personally, in becoming a Fellow, I’m delighted to have demonstrated my personal commitment to the Institution and to engineering – and to have highlighted the value of the process of peer support and review.” He added that it felt like the ‘right time’ to channel his learning and experience in this way.

Patrick Kniveton and Justin Mingaye, Regional Development Manager at the IET, presented the IMechE & IET Joint Special Award, which recognises the ‘significant contribution’ of an individual to the company. This went to electrical engineer Arunkumar Subramaniam of the Professional Engineering Development Committee (PEDC) at Jaguar Land Rover, for his phenomenal work on the PEDC internal website. His skills have enhanced colleagues’ use of online resources by effectively linking them with those of the professional engineering institutions.

The awards ceremony is the culmination of several months’ company-wide focus on achievement, with department directors nominating employees for their skills in advanced engineering, chassis, hybrids, powertrain and research, among other specialised areas. Bob Joyce FREng FIMechE presented the Higher Education Achievement Awards and Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart, who introduced and closed the event, presented the Six Sigma Black Belt Awards. All of those honoured received a specially engraved glass trophy.

Jo Lopes summed up the value of the company’s commitment to celebrating technical excellence: “For our engineering-focused business, which strives to be at the leading edge of customers’ and stakeholders’ expectations, we need people who have the ability and wherewithal to strive for continual learning. Being in close partnership with the Institution helps us to embrace that goal. It is also really important to hold an occasion for peers to appreciate each other; and for senior management to take part in recognising their workforce. It has become a regular landmark in our progression as a company of engineers, showing that we are aiming for ever-higher achievements.”