Rolls-Royce engineer Alexia Williams has been awarded an MBE for her services to education and skills in The King’s Birthday Honours List, announced on 15 June 2026. Williams, who currently serves as a Through Life Technical Lead at Rolls-Royce Plc, was recognised for her extensive work championing apprenticeships and technical education pathways for young people across the United Kingdom.
The honour highlights a career founded on the very vocational routes she advocates for. Williams joined Rolls-Royce as an Aerospace Engineering Degree Apprentice in 2018, later completing a Master’s apprenticeship in Through Life System Sustainment at Cranfield University. By age 25, she achieved chartered status, making her one of only 12 women at Rolls-Royce to become a Chartered Engineer at that age or younger.
Receiving the award at such an early career stage is a rarity; only two per cent of MBE recipients are under the age of 30. Williams noted that she was “completely shocked and absolutely delighted” by the news, viewing the recognition as validation for the importance of The Manufacturer MX Awards and similar platforms that celebrate industrial talent and diversity within STEM fields.
Engineering leadership through technical education
Williams’ professional trajectory provides a clear example of how degree apprenticeships can accelerate technical development. Her educational background includes studies at University Centre Weston and the University of the West of England, alongside earning EAL NVQ diplomas in aerospace and advanced manufacturing engineering.
In her current capacity at Rolls-Royce, her work supports the delivery and long-term sustainability of complex engineering systems. This practical expertise informs her leadership roles outside the company, where she has chaired the Apprentice Panel for Skills England and the Make UK Future Makers Group, working to address skills shortages across the sector.
The impact of her advocacy is grounded in significant outreach efforts. Over the past year, Williams contributed more than 200 hours to promoting STEM through conferences, schools, and air shows. This involved managing 60 people as part of the STEM team at the Royal International Air Tattoo in both 2022 and 2023.
Building a reliable talent pipeline
For Williams, apprenticeships are not merely a training route but a critical tool for creating more inclusive workforces. She maintains that the unique combination of academic learning and practical experience allows engineers to build professional networks more quickly than traditional university students. This focus on human capital is essential as manufacturing execution systems and digital tools continue to change how production lines operate.
“I have seen first-hand how apprenticeships can transform lives,” Williams said. She pointed out that when she was at school, these pathways were not always promoted effectively. Her own experience at Kingswood School in Bath between 2016 and 2018 helped build the confidence required to pursue an industrial career immediately after her A-levels.
Today, she serves as a mentor for Stemettes, supporting young women who are navigating applications for STEM careers. Her work as a Trustee of the Board for Enginuity further connects her to the broader goal of skilling the manufacturing sector to meet modern technical demands.
Future goals for apprentice advocacy
The MBE provides Williams with a broader platform to encourage more women to enter engineering and manufacturing. She remains committed to ensuring that apprenticeships become an option that every young person understands and can access, regardless of their background or previous exposure to the industry.
Beyond her technical role, Williams has previously been recognised as Apprentice of the Year at the Made in the South West Awards. She also won the Mary George Memorial Prize for Apprentices, cementing her reputation as a leading figure in UK technical training before receiving this latest royal honour.
While the specific date for the investiture ceremony has not yet been confirmed, her story serves as a benchmark for the engineering community. It demonstrates how individuals can influence industrial policy and skills development while maintaining a high-level technical role in a global aerospace firm like Rolls-Royce.
