Made in Britain photography awards

Win £5,000 of Canon camera equipment in the Made in Britain Photography Awards

Photographers of all levels and ages are being invited to capture the spirit of British manufacturing in the EEF Made in Britain Photography Awards.

Winners will share a prize fund of £5,000 worth of photographic equipment from lead sponsor Canon and bask in the national spotlight at an awards reception at the Houses of Parliament in December.

The awards are free to enter in three categories: professional, amateur, sponsored by Lombard, and young photographers (14-19), sponsored by The ERA Foundation. For the first time, there is also a parallel competition for images taken with mobile devices.

EEF, the manufacturers' organisation, is seeking images of manufacturing that feature British products, components or processes. Subjects can range from traditional to high-tech manufacturing and could portray any part of the journey in inventing, designing or making British products.

Terry Scuoler, Chief Executive of EEF, said, ‘The technology and people involved in modern manufacturing are colourful, eclectic and exciting. This is the chance for manufacturing companies to change the way people think about the industry and champion it as a leader of the economy by capturing its spirit.’

The government's ‘Make it in Great Britain’ campaign, which aims to challenge common misconceptions of manufacturing, is also backing the awards. EEF has also teamed up with the Associate Parliamentary Manufacturing Group, which is encouraging businesses that support its Made by Britain initiative to open up their facilities to photographers wishing to enter the award.

Barrie Street, Manufacturing Business Development Manager, Canon UK & Europe, said, ‘As a manufacturer with over 70 years of heritage in the industry, Canon is passionate about innovation within the manufacturing sector. This competition provides people with the opportunity to express themselves through the power of image and illustrate the strength and breadth of Britain’s most important industry today.’

Other awards partners include: BIS, Associate Parliamentary Manufacturing Group, The Guild of Photographers, The Digital Asset Lab, The Manufacturer magazine and The Times newspaper.

The EEF photography awards, now in their fourth year, aim to raise the profile of UK manufacturing by showing the industry's ingenuity, creativity, technology and pride through inspiring photography.

The closing date is Monday 30 September 2013, with entries shortlisted by a panel of photographic and industry experts in October (shortlist announced in November). The winners will be announced at a celebration event in Westminster in December. The gallery of winning and shortlisted images will be showcased around the UK throughout 2014.

Entry is free. Visit the EEF website www.eef.org.uk/photo, or call 020 7654 1501.