Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Defence
  • /
  • RBSL apprentices win at national manufacturing awards

Defence Events

RBSL apprentices win at national manufacturing awards

RBSL recently celebrated success at the Make UK National Manufacturing Awards, with two apprentices winning national titles.

The National Manufacturing Awards are organised annually by the manufacturers’ organisation, Make UK, with the aim of highlighting the resilience, determination and ingenuity of the UK’s manufacturing community.

Two RBSL colleagues, Jack Sears and Mohammed Shuayb, competed in the apprentice award categories with other regional winners from across the UK. Jack proceeded to win the Business Apprentice Final Year category, with Mohammed winning the Engineering Apprentice Final Year category.

Advertisement
ODU RT

Jack (above) joined the business in 2017 and recently graduated from a Level 4 Project Management apprenticeship. As an apprentice and now full-time member of RBSL’s ‘industrialisation team’, Jack works to transform RBSL’s Telford site into a world-class manufacturing facility ahead of delivering major programmes for the UK MOD.

He is actively involved in managing strategic elements of the plan, including supporting the HR recruitment team as they recruit over 100 new employees. As a result, he was also named RBSL Business Apprentice of Year 2020.

Mohammed (above) is also a key member of RBSL’s industrialisation team, taking the lead on a number of projects including manufacturing and coordinating time-lapse cameras to capture the significant transformations of the facility. He has also supported the induction of new apprentices over a number of years and has offered personal mentorship following his own experiences.

As a result, Mohammed was named ‘Apprentice of the Year’ by RBSL’s training provider in 2019 and voted ‘Players’ Player’ by RBSL’s own apprentice community, demonstrating how highly respected he is by peers.

RBSL currently employs almost 40 apprentices across its UK sites and is proud to actively invest in early careers and protect engineering and manufacturing skills. Rheinmetall CEO, Armin Papperger (above), recently took the time to recognise and personally thank Jack and Mohammed for their achievements and excellent performance.

Mr Papperger said: “I am very pleased about the award for our two colleagues. It fills me with pride that we have so many outstanding talents in our Rheinmetall family. In view of the diverse and complex projects to which we devote ourselves at Rheinmetall, we rely on motivated and talented colleagues. They form the basis for our success.“

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle

Charlotte Horobin, Region Director for Make UK in the Midlands, said: “These awards are a testament to the dynamic companies and individuals working within engineering and manufacturing. The sector remains at the heart of creating wealth in the Midlands and as we re-build our economy there will be a bright future for companies and individuals that make the most of their talent.”

 

 

 

 

 

Advertisement
General Atomics LB
Challenger 3 conducts first-ever crewed live firing trials

Defence

Challenger 3 conducts first-ever crewed live firing trials

20 January 2026

Rheinmetall BAE Systems Land (RBSL) has successfully completed the first crewed live firing of Challenger 3, marking a significant step towards delivery of the British Army’s next-generation main battle tank.

Cross Manufacturing to expand AS9100 accreditation

Aerospace Defence

Cross Manufacturing to expand AS9100 accreditation

20 January 2026

To meet demands from industry, Cross Manufacturing is looking to expand AS9100 accreditation to all three of its manufacturing plants, increasing its capacity for the design and production of precision engineered high temperature metallic sealing rings, retaining rings, brush seals and machined components for aerospace and defence applications.

GeoCue partners with Coptrz to expand TrueView LiDAR in UK drone market

Aerospace Defence Security

GeoCue partners with Coptrz to expand TrueView LiDAR in UK drone market

20 January 2026

UK drone specialists Coptrz have joined forces with GeoCue to offer the complete TrueView LiDAR product range, from entry-level to engineering-grade solutions.

JFD Global to collaborate with ST Engineering Marine in Singapore

Defence Security

JFD Global to collaborate with ST Engineering Marine in Singapore

19 January 2026

James Fisher Defence (JFD Global) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ST Engineering Marine to explore new opportunities for collaboration in Singapore and beyond.

Advertisement
Security & Policing Rectangle
QinetiQ extends Typhoon engineering services contract with MoD

Defence

QinetiQ extends Typhoon engineering services contract with MoD

19 January 2026

QinetiQ today announced a five-year extension worth £205 million, with the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD), to continue to deliver mission critical engineering services for the Royal Air Force’s Typhoon aircraft.

Battlefield tactics to protect UK prisons against drones

Defence Security

Battlefield tactics to protect UK prisons against drones

19 January 2026

The Deputy Prime Minister has tasked the Ministry of Justice to learn from Ukraine’s expertise, to harness their wartime innovation and tackle prison drones.

Advertisement
ODU RT
Advertisement
General Atomics LB