React Engineering’s managing director Phil Redfern collects the in-Cumbria Award for Businessperson of the Year

Cumbria-based React Engineering, an innovative nuclear decommissioning and engineering solutions company, praised for its commitment to promoting sustainability across industry, clinched a double win at an annual business awards ceremony.

React Engineering’s managing director Phil Redfern was named ‘Businessperson of the Year’ and project management apprentice Charlotte Maxwell scooped the ‘Apprentice of the Year’ award at this year’s in-Cumbria Business Awards. The awards celebrate the achievements of companies across all business sectors operating in Cumbria, and engineering firm React was hailed for an excellent 12 months with the two awards.

It rounds off a successful seven days for React which earned the coveted title of ‘Business of the Year’ at last week’s Britain’s Energy Coast Business Cluster (BECBC) Awards, as well as the ‘Collaboration Award for Resolve Engineered Solutions’ of which React is a partner alongside fellow Cumbrian SMEs Forth, PAR Systems and COMS.

Mr Redfern said: “The team at React Engineering works hard each and every day to achieve the best possible outcomes for industry by providing sustainable engineering solutions, and I am incredibly proud of the high standards they reach. It has been an extremely busy and exciting year at React, and to receive the accolades from in-Cumbria and BECBC in the space of a week has been extremely humbling and inspiring.

“I see my award for Businessperson of the Year as recognition for the entire team who work tirelessly to represent React Engineering in the most professional and knowledgeable manner, and build the company’s excellent reputation throughout the UK.”

Pictured right: Charlotte Maxwell receives the Apprentice of the Year Award

Mr Redfern continued: “We are all so proud that Charlotte’s remarkable development within the industry has been recognised by a panel of business leaders across all sectors. She demonstrates great enthusiasm and passion to learn more about the industry, and she has quickly become an integral part of the team.”

Mr Redfern has guided React Engineering through its most successful and busiest year in the company’s 29-year history, promoting collaboration with other SMEs and adopting new policies to ensure all working practices are aligned to the company’s values.

Empowering staff members to take the lead on projects no matter what their level of expertise has inspired business growth and significant expansion. Key milestones for React Engineering in the past year include the creation of a new office base in Warrington and the formation of a new projects division. Putting faith in staff members to take responsibility for their individual tasks has benefitted the development of project management apprentice Charlotte, who has shown huge potential in the role.

Charlotte said: “It is an amazing feeling to be named Apprentice of the Year in the company of some excellent nominees, and I would like to thank the team at React Engineering for giving me so much support and treating me like any other member of staff, despite being so early into my career.

“Phil has created a welcoming working environment where everyone feels confident to express themselves and share their opinions on projects, and I feel like this has significantly boosted my development.”

React Engineering was founded in 1994 and has developed a reputation across the UK and beyond for delivering pioneering, high quality, engineering and project management solutions in nuclear decommissioning and environmental clean-up, and achieving those outcomes in the most sustainable way possible.