A former pupil of Kingswood School in Bath has been awarded an MBE in The King’s Birthday Honours in recognition of her outstanding contribution to education and skills development across the UK.
Alexia Williams, an engineer at Rolls-Royce, received the honour for her work championing apprenticeships, technical education and opportunities for young people.
After joining Rolls-Royce as an Aerospace Engineering Degree Apprentice in 2018, Alexia progressed through a series of engineering roles and became a Chartered Engineer at the age of 25. Alongside her engineering career, she has taken on influential leadership positions, including Chair of the Apprentice Panel for Skills England and Chair of MAKE UK’s Future Makers Group.
Speaking about the award, Alexia said, “I was completely shocked and absolutely delighted. Receiving a letter from The King informing me that I had been awarded an MBE was something I never expected.”
She added, “For me, the award is not just recognition of what I have achieved so far; it is validation of the importance of apprenticeships, technical education and improving diversity within STEM.”
Alexia attended Kingswood School between 2016 and 2018 and credits the school with helping to shape her ambitions and confidence.
“Kingswood helped me develop not only academically but also personally. It provided an environment that encouraged ambition, curiosity and confidence, all of which have been invaluable throughout my career,” she said.
Looking to the future, Alexia hopes to continue improving access to apprenticeships and ensuring more young people understand the opportunities available through technical education.
“Ultimately, my ambition is to see apprenticeships become an option that every young person understands and can access,” she said.
