IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Who is eligible to enter?

The MX Awards are open to UK-based manufacturing businesses and professionals of all sectors and sizes. If you have a manufacturing site based in the UK, you can enter.

New People Award Categories

We're introducing individual award categories for 2026 - celebrating the talent, leadership and innovation shaping the future of UK manufacturing. Whether you're entering yourself or nominating a colleague, this is your chance to recognise people who deserves a spotlight.

Second Round Judging

When entering the programme, please ensure that you are available to attend an in-person or a virtual meeting with the judging panel - dates and formats will be outlined below.

HOW TO ENTER?

Step 1

Click to Download Entry Pack

Step-by-step guidance on preparing your entry and important details about the judging process.

Step 2

Click to view Categories

Learn more about the award categories available to enter.

Step 3

Click to view Judging Criteria and start your Submission!

Register or log into your previous account. After verifying your account via email (mandatory), you can view the judging criteria and begin your entry.

KEY DATES 2026


The second-round judging will be held in September.

Dates soon to be announced.

Business Awards

In-person Judging Day

International Trade

Leadership & Strategy

Operational Excellence

People & Skills

Product Innovation & Design

Smart Factory

Sustainable Manufacturing

People Awards

Virtual Judging Sessions

Commercial Team of the Year

Inspiring Leader of the Year

Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Champion

Sustainability Champion

Technology Champion

Young Manufacturer of the Year

HOW ARE THE AWARDS JUDGED?

All entries follow a two-round process, assessed by a panel of independent manufacturing industry experts.

WHY ENTER?

Taking part in The Manufacturer MX Awards isn’t just about winning, it’s about your business improvement journey. Entering gives you a golden opportunity to reflect on your business, benchmark against industry leaders, and gain invaluable expert insights to drive future success.


  1. Gain industry-wide recognition as a leading manufacturer.
  2. Benchmark against other successful UK manufacturers, assess your strengths and learn from industry peers and competitors.
  3. Demonstrate best-in-class standards to customers and stakeholders.
  4. Receive an in-depth business feedback report with suggestions to enhance and refine your business strategy, collated by top industry experts from our judging team.
  5. Gain VIP access to The Manufacturer exclusive events.
  6. Maximise your visibility from extensive media exposure through The Manufacturer’s online and print community of 265,000+ readers and national press network.
  7. Celebrate your people, highlight your team’s dedication and demonstrate your appreciation for the people behind your success.
  8. Attract top talent by showcasing that your company is the place to be.
  9. Share your story with our community and explore opportunities to apply to speak, be showcased at the industry’s largest advanced manufacturing festival (13,500 visitors) and join manufacturing advisory boards.
  10. Celebrate success in style with your colleagues and 400 industry peers at the prestigious gala dinner and awards ceremony in November.

FAQs

A: Entries are open to all UK manufacturing companies and individual professionals, of any size and from any sector.

A: The deadline for completing entries online is Thursday 9 July at 23:59.

A: Submitting an entry to The Manufacturer MX Awards costs £200 + VAT. This fee is refunded if your entry is not shortlisted.

A: Yes, of course. You can enter into as many categories as you feel are relevant to you, your nominated colleague and your business. Each category has its own judging criteria, so each of your entries should be tailored towards the criteria and category for which you are entering.

A: You will receive email acknowledgement to confirm your entry has been received successfully. This notification will be sent to the email address you supplied in the 'Company Details' section of your application.

A: Finalists will be announced on week commencing 17 August. Companies will be contacted regardless of whether they're a finalist or not.

Please contact the Awards Team at awards_tm@nineteengroup.com.