Young Ambassador Award

About the Award

This Award is to recognise an outstanding young person who is demonstrating communication skills and leadership associated with the chemical industry and contributing to its success.

Jonathan demonstrated remarkable passion and dedication to advancing the chemical industry. The judges were highly impressed by his commitment to driving innovation, fostering talent, and promoting sustainability. Jonathan’s exceptional leadership skills and enthusiasm for transforming perceptions of our industry represent a significant step forward. The judges are confident that Jonathan will be an outstanding leader for ChemTalent, effectively representing the voice of young professionals in the UK chemical industry.

In 2024, Jonathan Vincent was honoured with the Chemical Industries Association (CIA) Young Ambassador award, recognising his contributions to promoting the chemicals industry, advancing sustainability, and advocating for diversity and inclusion. His journey to this achievement began well before his professional career, shaped by early experiences in engineering and leadership.

Jonathan attended Repton School, where he pursued an intensive A-level curriculum taking 5 STEM subjects, confirming his passion for engineering. Early on, he was awarded the Arkwright Engineering Scholarship, a prestigious national award that identifies future engineering leaders. Sponsored by the RAF, Jonathan participated in various engineering and leadership events that developed his skills. During this time, he led a team of fellow scholars through projects such as building a remote-controlled car and taking part in a space design challenge, further reinforcing his interest in engineering and guiding his decision to pursue chemical engineering.

At the University of Nottingham, Jonathan completed an MEng in chemical engineering, where his education was heavily focused on design. His final-year project—a full Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) of a Carbon Capture unit using new technology—gave him insight into how the chemicals industry can contribute to sustainability and net zero goals. In parallel, Jonathan led an internationally competitive a cappella group, transforming it into one of the UK’s premier ensembles, performing at the Edinburgh Fringe, and taking on roles that further developed his leadership and communication skills. He also played rugby and volunteered as a STEM ambassador, encouraging students to explore careers in chemical engineering and demonstrating his commitment to advancing awareness of STEM pathways.

After university, Jonathan entered the chemical industry by joining IES in 2022 as a process engineer. This followed earlier roles in engineering consultancies working across sectors such as Defence and nuclear projects. At IES, he works on the cutting edge of technology, designing chlor-alkali plants and improving existing processes for clients world wide to increase both efficiency and sustainability. This role has allowed him to contribute directly to innovation and technological advancement in the chemicals sector.

Jonathan has actively promoted the industry to younger generations through mentoring and outreach initiatives. He participated in the Industrial Cadets Gold Project, mentoring students through a real-world industrial challenge to show them the opportunities available in the chemicals industry. He also returned to the Arkwright Scholarship programme to give back and inspire the next generation of engineering leaders. Within IES, Jonathan spearheaded a knowledge-sharing network to foster collaboration across business functions, supporting continuous improvement across the company. Additionally, he has been involved in Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, and his election to the IChemE Congress Committee has given him a platform to represent younger professionals and ensure their voices shape the future of the profession.

Sustainability is a core focus of Jonathan’s work. He has delivered talks at INEOS on topics such as hydrogen’s effects on the atmosphere, raising awareness of the challenges and opportunities in this area. He also participated in the CIA’s sustainability conference, discussing both gender imbalance and the chemicals industry’s transition to a net-zero future. These contributions have highlighted the need for systemic change and long-term planning within the sector.

Jonathan’s passion for diversity, inclusion, and sustainability continues to drive his work in the chemicals industry. The CIA Young Ambassador award reflects his dedication to creating a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future, positioning him as a leader in driving the industry forward.