India Skelt receiving her Award from HRH The Princess Royal, with Master Engineer Andrew McNaughton, at the Engineers Trust Awards Dinner on 9 June 2026

In collaboration with

Winner 2026 (£1200 Prize) – India Skelt

As a mechanical engineer in her early career India Skelt led the stand-up of a unique proof load testing (PLT) capability for containers at AWE, an option not available elsewhere in the defence nuclear enterprise, which was required to directly support the UK’s Continuous at Sea Deterrent (CASD). Delivered end to end in five months, this innovation removed a critical bottleneck for bringing containers into service while strengthening safety assurance.

The bottleneck of products requiring proof load testing would soon become a delivery issue and was increasing operational pressure. India engaged both the AWE Design Authority and Director Naval Operations Chief Engineer, as well as safety, operations, facility and quality to fast-track permissions, securing waivers, deviations and approvals to modify and commission the required equipment safely and compliantly.

In parallel, she authored the PLT methodology and created a standardised process-pack, creating artefact’s such as a Recording Form and Inspection Form, which define applied loads, objective acceptance criteria, witnessing and post-test inspection. She then participated on the shop floor to demonstrate and validate the end to end process before conducting PLT for service use containers.

The capability verifies safety by verifying lifting points, handling interfaces and weld condition to meet design requirements through life. It also accelerates throughput (in comparison to previous similar testing regimes), enabling more units to be tested and continue in service, easing pressure on front line operations.

India ensured the approach was deployable across multiple users; she assisted another site to establish an equivalent PLT capability to realise efficiencies in a legacy process and avoid bottlenecks affecting production. This knowledge transfer raised standards beyond the originating team by promoting common methods, consistent inspection points and auditable records across locations, which created a safer, faster, more consistent testing practice enterprise wide.

India drove the project to conclusion, always working to resolve issues even out of her control with great engagement. She ensured the key requirements of proof loading were met whilst really pushing the efficiency of how they are conducted. The exercise challenged and addressed the misconceptions and historical assumptions around the execution of these tests.

In collaboration with AWE, this award recognises defence engineering innovations and achievements within the last two years by those in the early stages of their engineering career that have delivered:

  • a positive impact to the efficacy or safety of the frontline members of the armed forces, or
  • financial savings to the Ministry of Defence;
  • benefit to the engineering community and/or defence industry.

The Worshipful Company of Engineers Charitable Trust (the Engineers Trust) promotes the contributions of engineers to benefit society, education and research, and the relief of hardship and poverty.

Award photo courtesy of Mark Witter Photography