The North East Automotive Alliance’s 2025 annual awards saw £17,000 donated to schools across the region, providing valuable support for science, technology, engineering and maths education (STEM).
The awards recognised achievements in innovation, sustainability and individual contribution to the sector. As part of their prize package, winners were allocated funds to donate to a school of their choice to support STEM learning and industry engagement.
The funds were awarded to schools supporting robotics programmes, specialist equipment, STEM club initiatives and direct engagement with employers.
Winner of the Outstanding Contribution Award, Paul Blanchard, managing director of Komatsu UK, visited Wardley Primary School in Gateshead to donate his £2,000 prize to the school. Pupils demonstrated their VEX Robotics projects and shared news of their qualification for the 2025 VEX World Finals – the only school in the region to do so. Paul also addressed a school assembly, sharing his career journey. Komatsu also supported the school last year after winning the Multinational Innovation Award.
Daniel Burfield, teacher at Wardley Primary, said: “I want to express our sincere thanks for the continued support. What has stayed with me most is the confidence so many of our pupils showed when speaking with Paul, Komatsu and the NEAA team. The interactions were fantastic to witness and were just as valuable as the financial support, which will make a significant difference to what we are aiming to achieve moving forward.”
Preston Technical donated its £1,000 SME Innovation Award prize and a further £1,000 company contribution to Epinay Business and Enterprise School, South Shields. Faltec Europe, who are a customer of Preston Technical, also donated an additional £1,000. Epinay supports students aged 4-18 with a range of special educational needs and both companies praised the school’s inclusive approach.
AR Power, SME of the Year Award winners, donated £2,000 to Our Lady Queen of Peace School in Penshaw. Founders, Mark and Maria Dunville, chose the school because their son attends and they are committed to supporting local STEM activities. AR Power is currently delivering one of the region’s largest rooftop solar installations for Komatsu UK.
Marelli donated £2,000 to Washington Academy after winning Employer of the Year. Graduate Award winner, Liam Wilson, from Marelli, also donated £500 of his £1,000 prize to the same school where he was once a pupil and where his niece now studies.
Albany Village Primary School received £1,000 from Port of Tyne following its win in the Multinational Environmental and Sustainability category.
Antonia-Lee Walker, of ElringKlinger, will visit Coatham Primary School in Redcar at the end of May to donate her £2,000 prize after winning the inaugural Women Who Inspire in Automotive Award. A former pupil of the school, Antonia-Lee, is committed to inspiring young women into engineering careers.
Other donations included £1,000 from SMS Technology, winner of the SME Environmental and Sustainability category, to Portobello School and £2,000 from Digital Transformation Award winner, Nissan, to Shiney Row Primary School. Port of Tyne donated it’s £1,000 Multinational Innovation Award prize to Primary Engineer.
Paul Butler, Chief Executive of the NEAA, said: “The awards celebrate our sector’s incredible strengths and is also a way to invest in the future. It is fantastic to see businesses not only being recognised for their success but also using that recognition to make a real difference in schools across the region.
“It’s a recurring concern that financial limitations often prevent our local schools from investing in vital STEM equipment or providing enriching, off-site learning experiences. Knowing that these contributions directly address this issue is truly heartwarming. These donations are instrumental in igniting young minds and showcasing the exciting career opportunities within our region’s automotive and advanced manufacturing industries.”