Osbit wins national Future of Work award
North East offshore engineering specialist, Osbit, has won a national business award recognising its commitment to developing people, building skills and creating high-quality jobs in the region.
Osbit was named winner of the Future of Work Award at the British Chambers of Commerce, Chamber Business Awards 2026, following its success in the regional awards organised by the North East Chamber of Commerce earlier this year.
The national award recognises Osbit’s people-first approach to building a skilled workforce for the offshore energy sector. At the heart of this approach is a commitment to developing talent at every stage of the career journey, from introducing young people to engineering through apprenticeships and university placements, to supporting the continued professional development of employees across the business.
Since launching its apprenticeship programme, Osbit has welcomed 11 apprentices, all of whom have progressed into permanent roles. The company also hosts between 10 and 20 university placement students each year, giving them responsibility on live engineering projects and creating a pathway into graduate employment.
Osbit has also introduced initiatives to encourage continuous learning and knowledge-sharing across the business. Its dedicated LearnEx platform gives colleagues a way to share knowledge, while regular TechTalks allow employees from across the company to present lessons learned, share expertise and learn from one another.
The company’s commitment to developing future talent also extends beyond its own workforce. Through STEM engagement in schools, colleges and universities, Osbit helps inspire the next generation of engineers and raise awareness of the career opportunities available in the region. In the past year, Osbit dedicated 458 hours to STEM engagement, attended 64 events and reached more than 5,800 young people through its network of 75 employee STEM ambassadors.
Nigel Ward, Managing Director of Osbit, said: “We are delighted to receive the Future of Work Award. Our people are central to Osbit’s success, our team have worked hard to create an environment where individuals can learn quickly, take responsibility and contribute ideas. This award belongs to our whole team and reinforces our commitment to developing engineering talent and creating rewarding careers in the North East.”
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “Osbit has built its growth strategy around people, skills and opportunity. Its investment in apprentices, students and continuous learning is creating the specialist workforce the offshore wind sector needs, while opening high-value career paths in the North East. This is a strong model for how companies can develop talent, improve performance and inspire the next generation.”
The award comes as Osbit continues to develop its engineering capabilities in the North East. Its expansion of their new build and test site at the Port of Blyth is expected to create more high-quality jobs, strengthening the company’s presence in the region and its ability to deliver specialist equipment for the global offshore energy industry.
Winning the national award is a significant milestone for Osbit and highlights the role North East businesses can play in developing the specialist skills, high-quality employment and future engineering talent needed to support the offshore energy sector.