Our colleagues were honoured to be recognised at the Future Trailblazers 2026 Packaging Innovations and Empack Awards, a celebration of exceptional young professionals who are shaping the future of the packaging industry.
Held on Wednesday 11th February at the NEC Birmingham, in partnership with the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining, the event spotlighted emerging talent driving new ideas in innovation, sustainability and operational excellence.
We’re especially proud that several of the winners and highly commended nominees were current or former Nestlé apprentices, a reflection on the strength of our early careers programme and the skills our apprentices bring into the business.
Two colleagues took home top awards. The first was Isobel Duignan, Co-Packing Manager, who won the Production Delivery Award, an award for engineers, packers and production operatives turning ideas into reality at scale.
Isobel received feedback from the judges: “Isobel, your rapid progression at Nestlé and your leadership in sustainable packaging projects are outstanding. Your commitment to mentoring apprentices and driving operational efficiency is commendable. Keep leading by example and sharing your expertise.”
The second was Olivia Tomlinson, Packaging Degree Apprentice, who won the Circularity Champion Award an award for innovators reimagining what happens to packaging after use, from recyclability and reuse to waste transformation.
Olivia also heard back from the judges: “There is so much potential in this entry and the drive to make impactful change is fantastic. I cannot wait to see how Olivia’s future career develops as I’m confident it will definitely blaze a bright trail.”
Three more colleagues were awarded Highly Commended Certificates, William Marjoram, Packaging Apprentice, for the Production Delivery Award who is “clearly a rising star at Nestlé”; Alice Kirkham, Application Group Manager, for the Operational Excellence Award who is “a strong candidate, leading from the front”; and Lucy Langley, Packaging Specialist, for The Packaging MVP (Most Valuable Player) Award who has “a clear understanding of what needs to be done and how to make an impact into the future”, according to judges.
Alison Bramfitt, Head of Packaging for Nestlé UK and Ireland, said: “Seeing our colleagues celebrated for their work in circularity, innovation and operational excellence is something I’m hugely proud of. They’re helping us push boundaries, find smarter solutions and design packaging that’s better for our consumers and the planet. Our apprentices are already making an impact, and they will shape where we go next.”
These achievements reflect the impact our apprentices make across the business, bringing curiosity, fresh thinking and the skills needed to help us deliver our ambitions. That includes our commitment to design 100% of our packaging to be recyclable or reusable, ensuring materials can have multiple lives and avoid landfill.
Find out more from the Future Trailblazers Awards.
