Liam Towills of Bath based rotary precision measurement company RPI UK has received an Aerospace Ambassador Award. He secured the ‘Best Young Aerospace Entrant’ award on Wednesday 27 June, as the stars of the South West aerospace and defence sector were celebrated at the second WEAF Aerospace Ambassadors Awards under the wings of Concorde at Aerospace Bristol.
Organised by the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF), the annual awards focus on the cream of the industry and shine a spotlight on their outstanding achievements.
Backed by headline sponsors Safran and SKF Aerospace, the awards attracted scores of entries, which presented the judging panel of independent and recognised experts a very pleasant problem – how to choose the best from the best!
The South West has one of the largest concentrations of aerospace and defence capabilities in Europe, and is the largest aerospace cluster in the UK, worth more than £7 billion per annum.
The winners were:
| Award & sponsor | Winner |
| Best Aerospace Engineer (sponsored by Castlemead Insurance)
|
Ben Smith
Rolls Royce – Filton, Bristol |
| SME Star Award (sponsored by Trowers & Hamlins LLP)
|
Nick Epps
Bowmill Engineering – Poole |
| Best Young Aerospace Entrant (sponsored by Bridgwater & Taunton College)
|
Liam Towills
RPI UK – Bath |
| Lifetime Achievement Award (sponsored by Airbus)
|
Frank Bamford
Semper Aero – Weston Super Mare |
| Extra Mile – Customer Service Award (sponsored by AACE)
|
Paolo Zanotto Leonardo MW – Yeovil |
| Best Aerospace Media Ambassador (Short film)
(sponsored by Aro PR and Marketing |
Linda Coode
Aerospace Bristol |
| Legacy Award (sponsored by WEAF) | Trevor Egginton Leonardo Helicopters |
Adrian Harding, Business Development Manager of WEAF, the leading membership trade organisation for aerospace and defence companies in the South West, said: “Congratulations to all the winners of the second Aerospace Ambassador Awards – the brightest and best in the South West’s aerospace and defence sectors! And a well done to all the individuals who were shortlisted – the judges had an extremely difficult job, such was the quality of nominations. The South West is a nest of innovation in engineering and manufacturing, and the individuals who have won these awards demonstrate this perfectly.”
Liam Towills of RPI UK said: “I am pleased, honoured and humbled to accept this award. It comes at a crucial time in my career and I am very grateful. RPI UK has given me the opportunity to develop professionally to a level that has only been possible thanks to the continuous mentoring and support I received from the managers, supervisors, and peers that has made my experience a memorable one.”
RPI UK is based on The Maltings Industrial Estate, Brassmill Lane, Bath and has been established since 1940. It is a world leader in developing and manufacturing precision positioning devices for higher accuracy rotary and angular inspection.
For more information on WEAF visit: www.weaf.co.uk
Pictured above: Liam Towills, winner of the Best Young Aerospace award at the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF)awards.
