Local professional and amateur photographers of all ages are invited to focus their cameras on manufacturing to enter the EEF Made in Britain Photography Awards.

Winners will share a prize fund of £5000 worth of photographic equipment from headline sponsor Canon and gain national recognition at a Westminster awards reception in December 2012.

The awards are free to enter in three categories: professional, amateur and young people (14-19).

EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, is seeking images of modern manufacturing that capture British products, components or processes. This could be anything from turbines to silicon chips, or could portray any part of the journey in inventing, designing or making British products.

“There's a boldness and beauty to British manufacturing that we're looking to capture through stunning photography," said Terry Scuoler, EEF Chief Executive of EEF. "Our aim is to give British manufacturing greater visibility and to challenge the myth that 'Britain doesn't make anything anymore'."

The government's Make it in Great Britain campaign is also backing the awards. Business Minister Mark Prisk said: "Manufacturing is a creative and innovative industry. EEF's Manufacturing Photography Awards will help raise awareness of how interesting and dynamic the industry is, while tackling outdated perceptions.

"The Awards complement the work of the Government's very own Make it in Great Britain and See Inside Manufacturing campaigns. Together they are working to transform the image of modern manufacturing, especially in the eyes of young people, and demonstrate the career opportunities available. I wish all entrants the best of luck in the competition."

EEF has also teamed up with the Associate Parliamentary Group, which is encouraging businesses that support its Made by Britain initiative to open up their facilities to photographers wishing to enter the award.

Nikki Paine, Manufacturing Business Development Manager, Canon UK & Europe, said: “Canon’s sponsorship of the Made in Britain competition is part of our ongoing commitment to the manufacturing industry, and valued partnership with the EEF. A picture can speak a thousand words, and Canon is pleased to support the industry’s efforts to change perceptions of manufacturing, and showcase its inherent spirit of innovation, through the power of the image.”

Other awards partners include, The Times newspaper; ERA Foundation; The Guild of Photographers; The Digital Asset Lab and The Manufacturer magazine.

The EEF photography awards, now in their third year, aim to create a new public image of 21st Century manufacturing industry by showing the industry's ingenuity, creativity, technology and pride through inspiring photography.

The closing date is 28 September 2012, with entries shortlisted by a national panel of photographic and industry experts in October and winners announced at a special ceremony in Westminster in December. The gallery of winning and shortlisted images will be showcased throughout 2013.

Entry is free via the EEF website www.eef.org.uk/photo, or call 020 7654 1501.

 

 

9th May 2012