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Engineering Education, Resources and Standards
News Release from: EEF West Midlands
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 25 November 2005
Awards recognise outstanding apprentices
Apprentices Mark Johns and Matthew Price were the overall winners at this year's EEF West Midlands Engineering Apprentice of the Year Awards 2005.
Against stiff competition from their peers, apprentices Mark Johns and Matthew Price were the overall winners at this year's Engineering Apprentice of the Year Awards 2005, organised by EEF West Midlands in conjunction with its member companies Now in their ninth year, the awards recognise and reward the talent of outstanding engineering apprentices within the region's manufacturing industry
Mark Johns, a first year apprentice working with Heller Machine Tools in Redditch, and Matthew Price, a final year apprentice with KGD Industrial Services in Hereford, stood out as overall winners for the judges from the 12 regional finalists.
They all received their awards at the awards ceremony, held this week at Birmingham ICC which was attended by over 200 people.
The keynote speech was given by Harald Kruger, Plant Director for BMW Hams Hall, which is currently training a number of apprentices, including a first year finalist.
The Company Best Practice Award this year was won by Hereford based Special Metals Wiggin for its exemplary approach to apprenticeship training.
First year apprentice winner, Mark Johns, age 17, from Stoke Heath in Bromsgrove, is an apprentice at Heller Machine Tools, based at Ravensbank Business Park.
Last year's final year apprentice was also from Heller Machine Tools.
Johns is training to be a machine tool fitter, learning to assemble, align and test horizontal CNC machining centres.
He comments: "I have been interested in engineering all my life.
Winning the award reflects the hard work and dedication I have put into my apprenticeship and brings me one step closer to achieving my ambitions in engineering".
Heller Machine Tools' Managing Director Geoff Lloyd adds: "Mark's first year results have been excellent and we see him blossoming into a fine and successful engineer for the future".
"We are proud of his achievement and look forward to assisting him in his further studies over the next two apprentice years and ultimately through his career with the Heller Group".
"He is a great ambassador for the engineering apprenticeship scheme".
Matthew Price, age 20 from Eaton Bishop in Herefordshire, took the title of Final Year Apprentice.
Price spent his apprenticeship training towards the role of project/design engineer.
He said: "This award really recognises the success of my apprenticeship and the effort put in by my company, KGD Industrial Services, Herefordshire College of Technology and Hereford Group Training Association over the past four years - without them this would not have been possible".
"I have really enjoyed my apprenticeship which has seen me undertake a wide variety of roles and work on varied projects from moving heavy equipment to food processing and glass recovery plants with end destinations in the UK, Middle East and East Asia".
Commenting on behalf of KGD Services, Ed Pitt, Operations Manager, said: "Matthew has shown great enthusiasm and commitment during his apprenticeship and is the first apprentice we have recommended in 18 years of apprentice training".
"We currently have 10 apprentices through the four years which shows the respect Matthew has earned from his company during his training".
Ian Smith, Chief Executive of EEF West Midlands, said at the event: "Congratulations to all 12 finalists, not just the overall winners".
"A remarkably high level of work has been achieved by all entrants to the awards and gives a positive sign for the future of British manufacturing".
"We need a world class workforce that can lead us to a prosperous future and the apprenticeship route has a great deal to offer".
Sue Fowler, President of EEF West Midlands, adds: "We are delighted to host the apprentice of the year which helps prove to companies that there is talent out there - while proving to young people that engineering, manufacturing, science and technology can be fantastic career choices".
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