AFBE-UK GALA & AWARDS 2025: CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE AND DIVERSITY IN ENGINEERING
A night of recognition, inspiration and celebration - the AFBE-UK Gala & Awards 2025 returns to shine a spotlight on the trailblazers shaping the future of engineering.
This prestigious event honours individuals and organisations driving meaningful change, championing diversity, and setting new standards of excellence in the industry.
Held every two years, the awards have become a premier networking event for leaders in business, energy, and engineering.
This year’s gala will take place on Thursday, November 6 (2025) at P&J Live, Aberdeen, bringing together industry pioneers, stakeholders and rising talent for an evening of recognition and connection. The Royal Academy of Engineering are the platinum sponsors.
With categories spanning mentorship, leadership, entrepreneurship and corporate diversity, the awards celebrate those making a real impact. Nominations are now open for prestigious categories, including:
STEM Champion of the Year (sponsored by Wood Plc)
Young BME Professional of the Year (sponsored by Leonardo)
Mentor of the Year (sponsored AspenTech)
BME Leader of the Year (sponsored by Shell)
Company of the Year (sponsored by Oceaneering)
Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by SLB)
Ethnicity ERG of the Year (sponsored by Harbour Energy)
AFBE-UK Volunteer of the Year (sponsorship available)
Special Appreciation Award (Mott McDonald)
The Special Appreciation Award will be chosen by the AFBE-UK committee. A drinks reception and multicultural entertainment will set the stage for the main ceremony, creating an evening of both celebration and inspiration.
The Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) was founded in 2007 to support professionals from ethnic minority backgrounds and promote greater diversity in the engineering sector. Through mentoring, career development and industry engagement, AFBE-UK provides opportunities for individuals at all career stages to thrive. With a strong presence in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, London and across the UK, the organisation collaborates with businesses, government bodies and academic institutions to drive meaningful change. AFBE-UK Scotland was launched in Aberdeen in 2011.
Ollie Folayan MBE, Co-Founder of AFBE-UK, said: “The AFBE-UK Gala & Awards is more than a celebration - it’s a testament to the power of diversity and innovation in engineering. Every winner and nominee is helping to shape a more inclusive future, and their success is an inspiration to the next generation of engineers.”
Rachel Ruxton, Head of Inclusion and Diversity at global security company Leonardo, sponsor of the Young BME Professional of the Year award, said: “We know the remarkable reach that this award has in encouraging young people from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. Encouragement – it seems so obvious that this is required, yet too many young people still need so much more of it. It is a powerful catalyst provided by AFBE-UK to help young people take those vital first steps into stimulating and well-paid job opportunities in engineering. As a member for many years, we are very proud to sponsor this year’s Young BME Professional of the Year Award because representation matters and it’s important that young people have the opportunity to be recognised for their excellence. We look forward to our continued collaboration with AFBE-UK as part of our journey to support greater diversity in STEM and the defence sector.”
Simon Roddy, Senior Vice President, Shell UK Upstream, sponsor of the BME Leader of the Year award, said: “It is an honour to support this inspirational event and recognise those who are leading the way for our industry. Key to the future of engineering is the collective strength of diverse experience and insight.”
Craig Shanaghey, AFBE Advisory Board member and Executive President of Projects at Wood Plc, sponsor of the STEM Champion of the Year award, said: “Wood is proud to sponsor the STEM Champions of the Year Award again this year. We are passionate about empowering future generations to consider careers in STEM. By recognising and celebrating these champions, we aim to inspire the next generation of innovators, inventors and leaders who will design the future with Wood.”
This year’s event will also mark the formal launch of the AFBE-UK Engineering Ethnicity Index, a pioneering benchmarking tool that will set a new standard for tracking and advancing diversity within engineering.
AFBE-UK delivers three flagship programmes designed to support professionals at different stages of their careers. Real Projects engages young people with hands-on engineering activities, exposing them to real-world industry challenges. Transition equips students and early-career professionals with practical career guidance, interview coaching, and networking opportunities. Transcend is a leadership development initiative aimed at helping mid-to-senior-level professionals advance their careers and increase their influence within the industry. The programmes have been held in Scotland.
As part of its growth strategy AFBE-UK has recently established two new activity hubs to inspire students to pursue careers in STEM through creative design workshops; one in Edinburgh and another in Birmingham. The programme is a partnership with Sir Lewis Hamilton's charity, Mission 44, and is part of AFBE’s broader mission to provide students with direct insights into industry and foster interest in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
Committed to fostering an inclusive and innovative engineering workforce, AFBE-UK continues to provide a platform for collaboration, knowledge sharing and professional growth. The organisation’s work has become a benchmark for industry-led diversity initiatives, reinforcing the need for representation and equitable opportunities in engineering.
Award nominations close on Friday, June 27 (2025), with finalists announced in September. More information about tickets and sponsorship opportunities is available at www.afbeawards.com.
