LET (MESM) Benjamin Roberts RN receiving his Award from HRH The Princess Royal, with Master Engineer Andrew McNaughton, at the Engineers Trust Awards Dinner on 9 June 2026

HMS ANSON is affiliated to the Worshipful Company of Engineers, which is pleased to support the Commanding Officer’s Engineering, Leadership and Innovation Award. Awarded to an HMS ANSON Junior Rate, Senior Rate, Warrant Officer or Commissioned Officer who has demonstrated exceptional engineering ability, leadership and innovation over the previous 12 months.

Leading Engineering Technician (MESM) Benjamin Roberts RN

Leading Engineering Technician Benjamin Roberts has been the cornerstone of HMS ANSON’s Forward Electrical Section throughout his time on board.  With a level of commitment far beyond his rank as Section Head, his responsibilities include: maintaining the air purification equipment; ensuring that the submarine atmosphere remains habitable; maintaining galley equipment; and maintenance of the Trim, Bilge and Ballast machinery, ensuring that the submarine remains controllable.

Since joining the submarine, Roberts took charge of the Section, showing an exceptional ability to navigate the mental and physical challenges associated with high tempo maintenance periods, global operations and National tasking. His leadership and response to the repair of numerous atmospheric control defects sustained the submarine on National tasking.  He innovated, using first principles to overcome incomplete technical documentation for those repairs, sharing his experience to improve future fleet availability and reliability of the electrolysers.  He is also a keen and vocal advocate for training juniors, spending much of his off-watch time mentoring those on route to their Basic Submarine Qualification.   For his engineering innovation, flair for problem solving, focus on delivering results and leadership of his department, he was nominated for HMS ANSON’s Engineer of the Year.

The Worshipful Company of Engineers, through its charitable arm the Engineers Trust, is honoured to recognise outstanding performance and leadership across all branches of the Armed Forces and their civilian engineering support teams. Awards were presented by HRH The Princess Royal at the Company’s Awards Dinner on 9th June 2026.

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