EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation and Aldermore have launched the hunt for the UK’s best manufacturers.

The 2013 EEF Future Manufacturing Awards are open to businesses of all sizes and talented apprentices.

They offer manufacturers and apprentices from across the UK the opportunity to showcase their achievements across eight different award categories: business growth, people and skills, innovation, export, health and safety, environment, apprentices & young engineering students.

A number of new awards, such as Partnership in Education and Sustainable Manufacturing, and a new Health and Safety category, have been added to mirror current sector trends.

Sponsors of the individual awards include Westfield Health, JAM Recruitment, ENER-G and Rolls-Royce.

The EEF awards are free to enter and will be judged in six regions across the UK, with regional winners being announced at celebration events in November. The regional winners will then compete for the national awards at a ceremony in London in January 2014.

EEF Chief Executive Terry Scuoler said: “The Future Manufacturing Awards has established itself as the biggest and most prestigious event in the manufacturing sector. As a response to the programme’s popularity, I am pleased to announce that we have increased the number of categories and awards so that more of your business units can take part.

“This is our time to celebrate our manufacturing champions and the young apprentices who are shaping the future, and I challenge all UK manufacturers to step up and submit an entry.”

Aldermore Managing Director Rob Lankey added: “Aldermore is proud to partner with EEF to recognise and reward the talent and great contribution that manufacturers and apprentices make to the UK economy. These awards are a testament to the talent that is being honed in the sector against a backdrop of continued economic uncertainty.”