Speaking at the Semta Skills Awards, Business Minister Matthew Hancock said it is vital for those who are “engineering the UK’s economic recovery” to be held up as examples for others”.

He said: “None of the great engineers of the past had a traditional university background; all of them learnt the skills that transformed the nation on the job, as apprentices.

“What we can learn from previous generations is that the Industrial Revolution was dramatised through ‘rock star’ engineers such as Stephenson and Brunel, who attracted money from investors because of the hype and excitement that surrounded engineering at the cutting edge. It is vitally important that the nation regains this excitement.”

Alex Tomlinson, 24, from Birmingham — a third-year Powertrain Emission Test Higher Apprentice at Jaguar Land Rover — was named overall Best of British Engineering; he also won the Apprentice of the Year category.

Another winner was Mark Chapman; his pioneering work on advanced jet propulsion systems is the ‘driving force’ behind Richard Noble’s Bloodhound Supersonic Car, which it is hoped will exceed 1,000mph.

Meanwhile, Jaguar Land Rover won the Skills Innovation of the Year category, and Derby-based Toyota won the Training Partner of the Year award.

Semta CEO Ann Watson said: “Some people wrongly believe that the best days of Great British engineering are behind us, but we know that Britain is still revered in the world of engineering and advanced manufacturing. Our awards have once again unearthed the country’s most talented engineers and fantastic companies.”