Mabey Bridge has been shortlisted for the next stage in the Institution of Mechanical Engineers’ Manufacturing Excellence Awards in the categories of ‘People Effectiveness’ and ‘Partnership with Education’.

The Chepstow-based company has been visited by MX expert assessors together with David Davies MP for Monmouth.

During the day-long visit, assessors commented that Mabey Bridge ‘shone’ and the factory was ‘a joy to see’, with the presentation for People Effectiveness described as ‘stand out’ and ‘first class’.

The assessors awarded Mabey Bridge a score of 98 per cent and the company will now make a final presentation in London in early September before the awards are decided and announced at a prestigious ceremony on September 30.

Chris Droogan, CEO of Mabey Bridge, said: “These are prestigious awards and we are delighted to have been shortlisted. As a company we recognise that our success is down to the dedication and expertise of the people who work here, and we encourage and support self-improvement by providing the highest levels of training, which in turn supports the company’s reputation for excellence. We also work closely with all levels of education, from local primary and secondary schools, through to national colleges and universities, to both promote engineering as a career and to support curriculum and courses, thereby helping to create and sponsor future generations of engineers. We host numerous visits and send our employees out to schools and colleges, and of course we are particularly proud of our award-winning apprenticeship programme.”

David Davies MP said: “I’m delighted that Mabey Bridge has been shortlisted in both of these important areas. If people are coming into a company it is important they have a clear path and support for career progression. It means everyone is happier and more efficient in their work and everyone wins as a result.

“The work done with schools is excellent because manufacturing can still have something of a negative perception when, as Mabey Bridge proves, the opposite is actually the case. Engineering can be a very rewarding and exciting career. Mabey Bridge is a very hi-tech company and is the type of manufacturer that is doing wonders for the UK economy. This is an important message to get into schools and universities.”

Christopher Simpson, chairman of the Manufacturing Excellence Awards Executive, said: “The work of Mabey Bridge demonstrates the huge skills, innovation and success in UK manufacturing.”

The Manufacturing Excellence Awards programme has been helping UK manufacturing companies improve for more than 30 years and is widely recognised in the business world for promoting the very best of UK manufacturing.