adi Group has received national recognition for its Corporate Social Responsibility, taking home the award at the Chemicals North West Awards 2026.

The accolade highlights adi Group’s focus on responsible business practices, workforce sustainability and community impact. This is underpinned by a CSR programme that opens pathways into skilled engineering careers while delivering tangible social value in the communities it serves.

A major factor in the win was adi Group’s pioneering pre-apprenticeship programme, launched in 2016 to engage young people from age 14 and challenge outdated perceptions of engineering careers. Delivered over two years at the company’s Birmingham headquarters, the programme combines hands-on electrical and mechanical experience with a formal qualification and exposure to multiple engineering pathways. It is now recognised as an effective model for widening participation in STEM and helping to address the sector’s skills gap.

Since its launch, 17 pre-apprentices have progressed into full-time apprenticeships with adi Group, demonstrating the programme’s success in building a sustainable pipeline of future engineering talent.

This is supported by the company’s Apprentice Academy, which has expanded significantly in recent years. Apprentices accounted for 11% of the workforce in 2025, with a record intake of 18 in the same year. This focus on high-quality training was also recognised through Platinum membership of The 5% Club’s 2025–26 Employer Audit Scheme.

James Sopwith, Group Strategic Account Director at adi Group, said: “This award is a proud moment for adi because it reflects how deeply important creating positive impact for people and communities is to our business. 

“Our CSR work is built on the belief that the industry has a responsibility to open doors, especially for young people who may not see a traditional academic route as the right path for them. We have worked hard to create meaningful opportunities through our pre-apprenticeship programme, our Apprentice Academy and our partnerships across the community, and it is incredibly rewarding to see that recognised.” 

Beyond early careers, adi Group’s work also highlights community impact. Since the start of 2023, its partnership with Birmingham Children’s Hospital has raised over £212,000, including more than £82,000 in 2025 alone, supporting vital services for children and families across the region.

Employees are also given one paid volunteering day each year. In 2025, the business exceeded its target of 200 volunteering days by delivering 241 volunteering days (1,716 hours) across careers events, STEM activity, employability programmes, homelessness initiatives and food poverty projects, strengthening relationships with schools, charities and community organisations.

James Sopwith adds: “This recognition belongs to our employees, whose fundraising and day-to-day commitment make a real difference. We are honoured to have been recognised by Chemicals Northwest and remain committed to building lasting social value through everything we do.”

The award was presented as part of the Chemicals Northwest Awards dinner at the Titanic Hotel in Liverpool on 19 March 2026, with a pre-dinner drinks reception in the Rum Warehouse bar and BBC North West Tonight presenter Roger Johnson hosting the evening. 

adi Group, headquartered in Kings Norton, Birmingham, is a multi-disciplined engineering business serving customers across the UK and Ireland. The company operates across more than 30 specialist engineering disciplines and supports multiple sectors including manufacturing, food and beverage, automotive, aerospace and defence, pharmaceutical and petrochemical. 

This recognition underscores adi Group’s belief that responsible business should be embedded across all aspects of its operations, from workforce development and local outreach to charitable support and employee wellbeing. Looking ahead, the business will expand its early careers and community programmes in 2026–27 to further strengthen its social impact.

With over 30 years of engineering experience and more than 200,000 sq ft of manufacturing capacity, the Birmingham firm continues to position social responsibility alongside technical delivery as a core part of its mission to engineer a better future.

For more information on the adi Group, visit: adi Group | Quality Engineering Solutions.