MTA secures employer recognition Award

The Manufacturing Technologies Association (MTA) has achieved a Gold Award in the Defence Relationship Management (DRM) Employer Recognition Scheme. Having previously held the Silver Award, the association has been working hard to increase its support, alongside current Gold Award holders, who have acted as excellent role models. 

In the 10 years since signing the Armed Forces Covenant, the MTA has proactively advocated for, and supported, the armed forces community. Some of the key actions for which the MTA have been recognised include its extensive charitable and advocacy work.

More information www.mta.org.uk

Subcontract Market Up 61% in Q2

The UK subcontract manufacturing market leapt ahead in the second quarter of 2025 as large buyers returned to the market with new projects. The signs are that there are more to come. The latest Contract Manufacturing Index (CMI) shows that the subcontract market was up 61% on Q1 20205, which was itself 50% up on Q4 2024.

Commenting on the figures, Qimtek owner Karl Wigart says: “It’s good to see the market up on the previous quarter; it finally seems to be getting up some momentum and shrugging off potential adverse factors. We’re hearing that there are more projects to come, but buyers are not sure when that will be. Hopefully this growth will continue in the next quarter.”

More information www.qimtek.co.uk

Outstanding apprentice

A Black Country toolmaker that is a ‘fantastic ambassador’ for vocational learning has been crowned ‘Outstanding Apprentice of the Year’. Accura Engineering’s Ethan Austin beat off the challenge of over 100 peers to secure the title at the In-Comm Training Awards in Birmingham earlier this month. More than 420 people from 50 companies heard how Ethan had shown exceptional commitment to both technical and professional development, and is the youngest apprentice at the company to be trusted in customer-facing roles. Judges also commented on his track record in supporting improvement projects.

More information www.in-comm.co.uk

Trumpf UK director retires

After over 30 years of service, Gerry Jones, sales director at Trumpf UK, retired earlier this month. The company says his impact has been exceptional, from nurturing enduring customer partnerships to driving major global projects within the business, his leadership has been a cornerstone of success. His calm and approachable leadership has left a lasting mark on Trumpf UK and beyond. Looking ahead, Trumpf UK has named John Roche as head of sales for machine tools and Tom Chaffer as head of sales for laser technology, both reporting directly to managing director Lee Moakes.

More information www.trumpf.com

Hexagon Launches Future Skills Challenge

Hexagon’s Manufacturing Intelligence division has teamed up with Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing to launch ‘Telemetry Tested: The Hexagon x Oracle Red Bull Sim Racing Future Skills Challenge’, an interactive quiz that fuses esports performance with real-world engineering instincts. Hexagon wants to highlight the shared skills between sim racers and next-gen manufacturing engineers. In both environments, success hinges on the ability to interpret vast datasets, make fast decisions and collaborate across disciplines, whether on the virtual track or in the race to bring sustainable, high-performance products to market.  

More information www.bit.ly/46Rdlnd