Pearson Engineering Group scoops two accolades at prestigious North East Awards
July 2, 2026
Three colleagues from Pearson Engineering and Responsive Engineering were named finalists at the recent North East Apprenticeship Awards, with two taking home the winning gongs for Apprentice Ambassador of the Year and Apprentice of the Year (Engineering/Manufacturing).
Additionally, our group-wide commitment to development and training was recognised as the business was named a finalist in the Large Employer of the Year category. Based at our historic Armstrong Works home in Newcastle, our award-winning scheme bridges regional skills gaps by nurturing early-career professionals through structured learning and hands-on experience.
Apprentice Ambassador of the Year: Neil Mawson
Learning and Development Manager, Neil was named Apprentice Ambassador of the Year thanks to his sustained leadership in expanding our training framework. Since joining the organisation in 2023, Neil has been instrumental in growing the apprenticeship programme from five active participants to 52 apprentices working across varying technical levels.
An ex-Toolmaking Apprentice and Further Education Lecturer, Neil advocates for vocational pathways as premium, first-choice routes into engineering careers. He has done this by:
- Delivering presentations and interactive workshops to hundreds of young people through partnerships with local colleges, universities and training providers.
- Participating in high-profile national initiatives, including the Technician: Make It Happen campaign and delivering an opening speech at the request of Lord David Sainsbury at the London Science Museum’s Technician’s gallery.
- Driving a 13% increase in female apprentice recruitment across our engineering intakes.
Our manufacturing degree apprentices achieved significant recognition within the Engineering and Manufacturing category, securing both a winner’s trophy and a finalist position.
Apprentice of the Year Winner: Ethan Taylor
Having previously completed a Level 3 qualification, Ethan chose a degree apprenticeship path to develop advanced management capabilities within high-integrity defence manufacturing.
Since joining Responsive Engineering in 2024, Ethan has embedded himself as a vital technical resource, supporting design, testing, and compliance workflows on live client projects. His successes in the role include:
- Leading a major assembly project independently, demonstrating himself to be a consistently safe pair of hands-on critical tasks.
- Managing extensive datasets and aligning technical drawings with strict British and German manufacturing benchmarks.
- Reviewing engineering change requests and directly engaging with clients to resolve practical technical issues.
Category finalist: Matthew Coates
Matthew joined Responsive Engineering after completing his A-Levels in 2024. He has progressed at an exceptional rate, combining desk-based engineering workflows with live shop floor activity. His achievements include:
- Conducting a rigorous review of a new product for a long-standing customer under tight timescales. Matthew raised 37 targeted technical queries and identified a critical design flaw early, allowing the team to adapt the design and protect delivery timelines.
- Commended by his supervisor for “streamlining projects,” Matthew is already trusted to act as the lead manufacturing engineer on a demanding defence contract and works closely with senior project managers.
HR Director Dawn Prior said: “Our recognition at the North East Apprenticeship Awards is a proud moment for the entire business. Being shortlisted for Large Employer of the Year, alongside the individual achievements of Neil, Ethan, and Matthew, underscores the immense value we place on developing our people. The exceptional dedication, technical autonomy, and professionalism shown by our team perfectly exemplify how clear career routes and robust educational partnerships build a sustainable workforce while securing the future of advanced engineering talent across our region.”