Staffordshire-based manufacturer JCB has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Innovation, Science and Technology Award at the 2025 Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Business Awards. Sponsored by TMT First, the award recognises organisations that have successfully applied innovation, science, or technology over the past three years to drive measurable improvements in business performance.
JCB, celebrating its 80th anniversary this year, is the world’s third-largest construction equipment brand by volume, operating 22 manufacturing plants across four continents and employing over 19,000 people worldwide, including 7,500 in the UK. The company’s global headquarters remain in Rocester, Staffordshire, with multiple other facilities located across the county.
Innovation has been a core principle of JCB since its founding in 1945. From launching the world’s first backhoe loader in 1953 to producing its one-millionth unit in 2025, the company has consistently led in product development. Most recently, JCB has been recognised for its breakthrough in developing the world’s first zero carbon hydrogen combustion engine, a project that has the potential to transform sustainability in construction and agriculture.
This hydrogen combustion engine, developed following a £100 million investment and the dedicated work of 150 UK-based engineers, has now received commercial licensing approval from 11 authorities across Europe, including Great Britain and Northern Ireland. More than 130 prototype engines have been produced to date, with current deployment in backhoe loaders, Loadall telescopic handlers, and generator sets undergoing advanced real-world testing on customer sites.
The innovation has already gained national recognition, having won the Dewar Trophy in 2021—one of the most prestigious honours in British automotive engineering—for its technical achievement. The development of this technology supports not only JCB’s commitment to a zero carbon future but also the broader global effort to meet climate change targets.
