A leading industrialist has been awarded an honorary degree by Coventry University.

Carol Burke, managing director of Unipart Manufacturing Group, was given the title Doctor of Technology in recognition of her pioneering work in setting up the Institute of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering (AME) over five years ago.

The experienced engineer (www.unipartmanufacturing.co.uk) was one of the driving forces behind the UK’s first ‘Faculty on the Factory Floor’ — a new approach to developing the engineers of the future by making them ‘industry-ready’ through direct access to real-life manufacturing projects.

This has led to over 100 people entering the sector and — due to AME’s ability to commercialise R&D — to a number of multi-million-pound contracts for Unipart.

Ms Burke, who began her career with GKN, said: “While I am delighted to receive the honorary degree, I do feel the title is more recognition of how successful the Institute has been with its bold approach to bridging the skills gap.

"Industry and academia coming together has not always been the easiest of marriages, and although there has definitely been soul-searching on both sides, we have proven that the model works.

“Giving undergraduates the chance to learn in a real-life manufacturing environment fast-tracks their careers and equips them with skills that can have an immediate impact on the shopfloor.

"The R&D work we have carried out together includes projects as diverse as supporting the development of new fuel rails and creating a new battery-manufacturing facility.

"We feel we have found the blueprint for other companies and universities to follow.”