2024 ImpactReport
2024.Whatayearyouwere.
WhenIstartedtheroleofLeadProject ManageratBESTinJanuary2024Icould nothaveforeseenwhatajourneyboth BESTandIwereabouttoundertake.
ThisyearAutomateBESTputallofits effortsintoraisingitsprofileandhasbeen acollaborativeeffortbetweenmyself,the Fab5trustees,andthelovelyAutomate UKteam.
Toputthingsintoperspective,thecharity wasestablishedin2014,andhashanded out109awardsasofFebruary2024.So far,forour24/25cohortwehavehanded out44ofthoseawardswhichmakeup aroundathirdofthetotalawardsever handedout.
2024has beenour BEST yearyet!
OneoftheaspectsI’mmostproudofin thisroleisthecreationoftheBESTClub. Thisclubbringstogetherallpastand presentgrantwinners,includingGrant Jamiesonawardees.Itprovidesa platformforyoungpeopletonetworkwith eachotherandconnectwithindustry professionals,allwhilebeingguidedby myselfandthetrustees.Wealsofocuson developingtheirbehaviouralskills throughvolunteeringopportunitiesat eventsacrossthecountry Thisyear,BEST Clubmemberswereshowcasedat eventsinMiltonKeynes,Birmingham,and Coventry,aswellasatourFamilyFunDay inGaydon.
Whatwill2025hold?It'shardtosay,butif thisyearisanyindication,itcertainly won’tbedull.
M e e t t h e B E S T T r u s t e e s A K A T h e F a b 5
Ian Jardine
Richard Little
John Clayton
Gary Wyles
Tim Paul
MeettheBESTTeam
Jingxi,joinedtheteamwith unanimousapprovalfromtheBEST TrusteesandtheAutomateUK officeinJuly2024.Inherroleas LeadMotivationalOfficersheis primarilyinchargeofmotivating boththeBESTteamandthe AutomateUKteamattheofficein Wallingtonbutsheisalsousedfor socialmediafilms.Youcanfindher onourLinkedInandTikTokhelping topromoteBESTeventsandgrants. Youwill,ofcourse,seemoreofher in2025.
LeadMotivationalOfficer
Jingxi
BESTCoordinator
2024markstheten-year anniversaryofBESTscreation,and whatadecadeithasbeen!Ihave seenthecharitygrowinscope, scaleandconfidence–from engagingafewhundredstudents intheearlyyears,toover100,000 today!BESThashadaprofound andpositiveimpactonthelivesof somanyyoungpeople,andithas beenarealprivilegetoparticipate in.Here’stothenexttenyears…
“TheimpactofBESTin2024was,byfar,the BESTsofar ByyearendBESThadachievedfar highervisibility,builtahighlymotivatedBEST club,connectedwithmoreschoolagestudents thaneverbeforeandsupportedmore apprenticesthaneverbeforeontheirown individualjourneysandmuchmorebesides.”
Gary,BESTTrustee
E S T i n S h o w 25+
“Thisyear,SMCUKhavehadthe opportunitytoworkmoreclosely withAutomateBestandithas beenaverypositiveexperience Ourapprenticeswereinvitedto supportBESTattheAutomateUK showinSeptember Charlieset themtoworkcompletingtasks tosupportthestandattheshow whichofferedourguyssome greatnetworkingopportunities. Wecanalwaysreachoutto AutomateBESTforinformation andsupportwhichbenefitsour apprentices.Apleasuretowork withthisgreatteam”
SarahKing,StrategicHRLead@ SMCUK
“Withoutanydoubtthemost significantimprovementthispast yearhasbeentheinvolvementof apprenticesatourstandinboth displayingtheirskillsbyshowing examplesoftheirworkbutalso interactingwithvisitorsandus Trustees TheprofileofBESTasa membershipassethasbeengreatly enhanced”
John,BESTTrustee
“It was great to meet other apprentices and find out about their experiences. Meeting other apprentices and helping out with Automate BEST made me feel like I was welcome and part of an industry which otherwise could have felt quite overwhelming. Charlie is great at giving apprentices opportunities to learn more get involved in the industry”
Kathryn@ScorpionVision
BESTSTEMDays 30
“SchubertandAutomateBESThave collaboratedover2024onrobotic activitiestodriveinterestandawareness aroundtheircause ThoughSchubert aren’tinapositiontotakeonapprentices wehopetosupportAutomateBESTin otherwaysaswetrulyvaluethe importanceofgivingincredibleyoung talenttheopportunitytobetterour industries Charliehasbeenincredibleto workwith;enthusiastic,motivated,and passionate.Wecan’thelpbutalsofeelall ofthosethingswhenworkingwithBEST. Wehopeforabright,collaborativeand inspiredfutureworkingtogether’’ ArielWynn,Sales&MarketingExecutive @SchubertUK
4,468 109,200 910
Studentshave attendedaBEST VirtualSTEMDay BESTVirtualSTEM Daysdeliveredin 2024
Totalnumberofschools engaginginFactoryofthe Futureevents
Estimated no.of students
“Aburstofenergyandexcitement” MikeLam,MosslandsSchool
“Itisexactlythiskindofeventthat inspiresourstudents.” DrFionaVesey,FortPittGrammar
“It’sbrilliant!!Somuchamazing feedbackfromstaff!!” DuncanStickley,TheBillericay School
“Wehad100%positiveengagement ofallourlearnersinY7-awesome!” AmandaHolt,NorthHuddersfield Trust
ThenewlyrebrandedAutomateUKx AutomateBESTFamilyFunDaytookplaceon 30thOctober2024attheBritishMotor MuseuminGaydon,Oxfordshire.Duringthe daytherewastalksfromRogerTillingfrom UniversityChallengeandactivitiesforthe youngermemberswithVEXRoboticsand GetWithTheProgram.
82% 54%
“Visibilityisonething,actually beingnoticedisanother…..
Sinceinceptionwehavetriedto makeBESTvisibletomembersand theiremployees.Despiteus workinghardonbeingvisible,it wouldappearthatmanyofour membershaven’tactuallyseenus Duringthislastyear,Charlieand theproactiveapproachthatshe’s headedup,havesignificantly increasedthenumberofmembers andinterestedpartieswhohave seenandtakennoticeofwhatwe doandcando–witnessthe greaternumberofapplicationsfor support.”
100% saiditwas theirfirsttime attending ratedtheday aseitherGood orExcellent saidthattheir youngguest enjoyedthe STEMactivity
Richard,BESTTrustee
G r a n t J a m i e s o n A w a r d
AnishaRoberts
Afterreceivingmanynominationsfrommanyinstitutionsandcompanies fortheprestigiousGrantJamiesonAwardthetrusteeswereeventually pleasedtoannouncethewinnerwasAnishaRoberts.Anishaisamotherof two,andisanapprenticeatWilliamsJetTenders.afterworkingformany yearsasateachingassistantinaSENSchool,Anishadecidedthatshe wantedtodosomethingthatnotonlychallengedherselfbutalsomade herkidsproud.AnishahassincegoneontowintheBAEAdvance ApprenticeoftheYearAwardandapanelistattheHousesofParliament. AnishawasnominatedbytheManufacturingTechnologyCentrewhere shecurrentlystudies.
“IamsohonouredtoreceivetheGrantJamiesonAwardand incrediblygratefulforthesupportithasprovided.Thisawardhas significantlyeasedthefinancialpressureonmyfamily,allowingme tofocuswholeheartedlyoncompletingmyapprenticeship.WhenTim presentedmewiththeaward,hesharedstoriesaboutGrant’swork andhowdeeplyhecaredabouthelpingapprentices.Learningabout hiscommitmentandpassionforsupportingothersmakesreceiving thisawardevenmorespecialtome.It’saprivilegetoberecognised inthisway,anditinspiresmetocontinuestrivingforexcellence.Iam trulythankfulforthisopportunityandthedifferenceithasmadein myjourney.”
“2024provedtobearecordyear–in termsofnumberstudentsreached throughSTEMandFactoryoftheFuture events,andthenumberofgrants awardedtoapprentices.Mypersonal interactionwiththeBESTclubatthePPMA showwasahighlightaswasthe opportunitygiventometopresentthe GrantJamisonawardtosuchaworthy recipient–AnishaRoberts.”
Tim,BESTTrustee
RisingStar oftheYear2024 LewisMorley
LewisiscurrentlyanapprenticeatFESTO currentlystudyingforhisHND Inhistwo yearsatFESTO,LewishasbecomeaSTEM championinhiscommunityandhasbeen asignificantfigureintheevolvingproduct training.Lewishasalsobeenanactive memberofAutomateBESTafterhaving attendedthreeshowsandtakingpartin promotionalfilmstoo.
“WinningtheRisingStaroftheYear awardattheAutomateUKAwardshas beenahugehonourandareally meaningfulmilestoneforme.Being recognisedsoearlyinmycareerhas reaffirmedmypassionforwhatIdoand givenmearealboostinconfidence.It’s motivatedmetokeepworkinghardand pushmyselftogofurtherinmycareer”
LewisMorley,Apprentice@FESTO
A R D S
B E S T A W
“BESTyearsofarforawardinggrants.Thisisa directresultofrecruitingCharlietoleadthe BESTproject.Tellingemployerswhatfundingis availablethroughBESTandmakingtheBEST clubsomethingapprenticeswanttobelongto haslaidthefoundationsforfuturerecruitment toandapprenticesatisfactionintheindustries wesupport.”
Ian,BESTTrustee
AutomateUK membercompanies benefitting
6Membercompanies applyingafterseeing BESTatevents
Membercompanies applyingforthe firsttime
B E S T I m p a c t S u r v e y R e s u l t s
ForthefirsttimeinBEST’shistorywehaveconducteda ImpactSurveythatwasopentoallBESTaward recipientsandAutomateUKmembercompanieswho, eitherhaveanapprenticeorwhohavebeeninvolved withBESTin2024.Thevital23responseswereceived backallowedustolistenandunderstandhowweasa charitycancontinuetomakeimprovementstoour servicesandhelpmoreyoungpeopleandmember companies.
82% 80% 86% ofBEST
Apprentices feltthatBEST hadmade andimpact onthemin 2024
ofBEST
Apprenticesfelt thattheywere supportedby BESTStaff ofBEST
Apprenticesfelt thattheywere beingsupported byAutomate BESTasacharity
ofBEST Apprenticesfelt thattheBEST Awardshelped themintheir apprenticeship
80% 80% 83% ofBEST Apprentices wanttobemore involvedin2025 ofAutomateUK member companiesfelt thattheBEST awardhelped theirapprentice
“Ifeelprivilegedtohavereceivedthisgrantfrom AutomateBESTasithelpsmetowardsgettingthetoolsI needtoexcelinmycareer–Theeventopportunitiesthat comewiththisarevast,andIammostexcitedaboutthe newavenuesthathaveopenedupforinvolvementat showsandevents,suchasPPMA,whichthecompanyhas attendedforoveradecade!”
HarryDavies,Apprentice@CobaltSystems
“I'dsaythebestpartofbeingapartofAutomatebestisthat yougettheopportunitytomeetotherapprenticesandalso gainsomeknowledgefromtheveryexperiencedtrustees.”
ThomasPugh,Apprentice@HuxleyBertrumEngineering
ImpactReport 2024
DesignedbyCharlieAllen
ImagesbyCharlieAllen, Startpoint,JustinGrainge andSchoolsown.
Thankyoutoallwhohave contributedtothisreport. Wecouldnothavedoneit withoutyou!
