STAFF of Roadwater and Minehead-based Singer Instruments have been celebrating a clutch of awards for the company’s work to encourage the next generation of super-scientists, technological wizards, engineering gurus, and mathematical geniuses.

The company celebrated its 90th anniversary last year and specialises in developing and manufacturing lab automation robotics and workstations used by scientists across the globe to make the world a better place, finding cures for diseases, exploring space, and creating alternatives to finite resources.

Singer’s active science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM) team visits schools and colleges to deliver activities, assemblies, and support curriculum projects for all ages.

The business also offers young people work experience weeks, a year of T Level placements, and full apprenticeships, and has a busy programme of three-month PhD placements.

Chief executive Harry Singer said “Inspiring future generations is not important, it is absolutely essential.

“They are going to be responsible for making the planet a cleaner, greener, healthier place.”

Apprentice design engineer Jack Lewis, who won ‘apprentice of the year’ at the Somerset Business Awards and ‘student of the year’ with the West of England Institute of Technology, said: “Winning these awards has been an incredible honour and a milestone in my early engineering career.

“They are not just personal achievements, they reflect the opportunities and support I have had at Singer Instruments.

“From day one, I have been encouraged to innovate, take ownership of real projects, and push the boundaries of what is possible with new technologies.

“Being part of a forward-thinking and supportive team has made all the difference.”

Singer Instruments also won Bridgwater and Taunton College’s ‘T Level placement employer of the year’, which it dedicated to the late Adrian Huxley, a long-term employee who died suddenly in May and who had worked tirelessly to provide practical and professional placements for students.

Adrian had a deep-seated passion for teaching younger generations what was expected from them in a place of work, and had said: “Watching young people develop is priceless, it is so rewarding personally.

“I hope in the future they will take on that role and ‘grow’ young adults themselves.”

The company also won the ‘inspiring the next generation’ category in the Somerset Careers Awards.

It has been working with Somerset Education Business Partnership to create a range of videos about careers within Singer Instruments for education providers to access free of charge, as well as providing local libraries with summer activities, and participating in careers events in middle schools and colleges.

Managing director Robbie Devlin said: “We are all incredibly proud to receive this recognition, but these awards are about so much more than a trophy on a shelf.

“They are a testament to the passion of our entire team who dedicate their time to inspiring the next generation.

“This is a core part of who we are at Singer Instruments, a value championed for years by so many colleagues past and present.

“To have our work honoured in this way is truly humbling for everybody, and is a great legacy for Adrian.”