Unipres scooped the School Engagement trophy at this year’s North East Automotive Alliance Awards.

As a winner, the company received £2,000, which Unipres was delighted to donate to Biddick Academy, Washington, to support its Engineering department and Girls in Engineering programme.

Over 200 guests and many of the region’s major automotive companies came together at the awards to celebrate outstanding individual talent and the spectacular achievements of companies flying the flag for the North East automotive sector.

A cheque for £2,000 was awarded to Unipres UK in recognition of its strategy and enthusiasm towards engaging young people with STEM subjects. Unipres UK was able to demonstrate its commitment to investing in future talent and how this has been critical in supporting internal succession planning and social mobility.

Unipres’ donation will be used in the school’s Engineering department and go towards funding a 3D printer as well as encouraging more girls to take up Engineering.

Kate Morris, head teacher at Biddick Academy, said: “We were delighted to hear that Unipres had won the School Engagement award at the North East Automotive Alliance Awards 2020. Biddick Academy is very fortunate to have Maureen Askew as our Enterprise Advisor and we are grateful for the opportunities that our students have enjoyed with Unipres, including the Industry Cadet programme and ‘Girls in STEM’.

“Biddick Academy embraces the opportunities that STEM education provides, and we are continuing to develop our STEM programme with Unipres. This funding will help us in expanding the range of additional activities we offer and will enable us to invest in a 3D printer so that we can allow our students to experience a wider range of modern technologies within our school environment.”

Maureen Askew, senior controller at Unipres UK, said: “I am delighted that Unipres has once again been recognised at the NEAA awards for our school engagement activity but more importantly we are thrilled to be able to then put this donation back into education to help inspire our future engineers.

“Unipres has been working with Biddick Academy for two years and we have really enjoyed helping students at the school and seeing their enjoyment from the STEM activities we do. The school is incredibly proactive in engaging with industry and preparing students for future career opportunities.”