Design engineer Clare Roberts from Yorkshire Electricity has been named Young Woman Engineer of the Year.

Runner-up for the award was Jane Stevenson, another Prospect member, who is a planning development manager with BAE SYSTEMS Marine Shipbuilding in Glasgow.

At an awards ceremony in London attended by leading figures in the world of science and engineering, the inventor and designer James Dyson presented Clare Roberts with a silver rose bowl and a £1000 cheque.

Jane Stevenson received a £500 cheque as the Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) IBM prize.

Both women are enthusiastic about their Prospect membership.

"Being represented at work by a professional trade union is very important for women engineers, just like everyone else," said Clare. "I would certainly recommend membership of the union to other eligible women."

Trade union membership is a significant feature of working life for Jane, too. "Particularly in today’s working environment I believe it is very important," she said. "I have always been encouraged by colleagues in the shipbuilding industry to be part of the union. And it is advice I would certainly pass on to other women in the industry. Joining Prospect is really to be recommended."