Frazer-Nash Engineer, Robert Battrum, has won the Young Innovator of the Year accolade at the Energy Innovation Centre’s (EIC’s) 2019 UK Energy Innovation Awards.
Rob received his award on 26 September, at an event at Liverpool’s Titanic Hotel. He was one of six finalists, chosen by a panel of expert industry judges from across the gas, electricity and water sectors. He was selected as the winner for his work on novel breathing apparatus seals, generating new design concepts which have the potential to provide a good seal with up to one week’s facial hair growth.
Power, Transmission and Distribution Business Manager, Anuj Nayyar, said:
“Huge congratulations to Rob on this well-deserved win, which recognises his commitment to always thinking ‘outside the box’, and to delivering novel, innovative solutions to the challenges facing Frazer-Nash’s clients. We know he has a bright future ahead!”
Part of Frazer-Nash’s mechanical design team, Rob graduated from Durham University in 2017 with a MEng in Mechanical Engineering. At Durham, he was an IET Diamond Jubilee Scholar, BP STEM Scholar and Chief Engineer of Durham University Electric Motorsport. Celebrating his win, Rob said:
“I’m delighted that the pioneering work of this project has been recognised, and our research into breathing apparatus seals continues to go from strength to strength. It’s great to be part of a team creating an innovation that is going to facilitate the safety and well-being of people across multiple industries.”
The Young Innovator of the Year was a new category introduced to the Energy Innovation Awards this year. Over 350 guests from the utilities sector and innovation community attended the awards, compered by television comedian Hal Cruttenden, which are organised and hosted by innovation scout, the EIC. In an opening address, Dermot Nolan, CEO of Ofgem, stressed the importance of innovation in decarbonising energy systems, and supporting the scale and pace of change needed to deliver a net zero carbon future.
Find out more about the awards at https://www.ukeiawards.com/.
