After months of searching, the hunt for EEF’s apprentices of the year is over as the winners were announced earlier this week at the National EEF Future Manufacturing Awards.
Category sponsors:
The outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award
The Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award
Exemplar Young Engineering Students
With hundreds of applicants and scores of regional finalists competing for the titles, the judges certainly had their work cut-out choosing a winner and even commented that the talent on display was at a level that they had never seen before.
Following many sleepless nights, the decisions were finally made and our winners were announced at a gala dinner held in London. With the crème-de-la-crème of the engineering and manufacturing industry watching in anticipation, Michael Williams from Severn Trent Water Ltd secured the accolade of Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice.
During his apprenticeship Michael used his own initiative to introduce a number of significant process control developments, resulting in substantial cost savings and improved efficiency and reliability at Severn Trent Water.
The judges said Michael demonstrated sheer determination during his apprenticeship and seized every opportunity presented to carve out a career. They commended him for taking full advantage of his college study and achieving a first class honours degree, which ultimately led Michael’s employers to offer him a senior technician role on completion of his apprenticeship.
The Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award was presented to Samantha Ball from MBDA.
MBDA Director of Manufacturing Bernard Waldron MBE said during her short time with the company, Sam has continuously surpassed expectations in a multitude of roles and activities whilst excelling in her personal and professional development.
“Well respected by her peer group and her supervisors, her conscientious and professional approach combined with her pleasant disposition have seen her mature beyond her years’” he said.
Sam said in the future she would like to be a well-respected manager who apprentices look up to and turn to for guidance, similar to those who have influenced and inspired her career. The talented 19-year-old revealed; “You can sit back and slip into a comfort zone, or you can stand up and be counted and stick up for the ideas you believe in.”
Congratulations also to the highly deserved runners-up:
Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice - Alex Simmonds, Messier Services Ltd
Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice - Stephanie Oswald, BAE Systems Global Combat Systems
In recognition of the impressive achievements and motivation displayed by our finalists, EEF was pleased to recognise Ciaran Parkin (St. Leonard’s RC School - Durham) Scott Ellis (Framewellgate School - Durham) and Vishal Bains (Chellaston Academy – Derbyshire) as Exemplar Young Engineering Students within the Outstanding Achievement by a Young Apprentice category.
Ciaran Parkin, St Leonard's RC School
Scott Ellis, Framwellgate School
Vishal Bains, Chellaston Academy
The judges said; “The quality of the young people seen in this category at the regional level was extremely high, making it impossible to clearly identify only one winner at the national level.”
Closing the 2011 event, Terry Scuoler, CEO of EEF, said; “The EEF Awards showcase the best of British innovation and excellence. They mark our industry’s importance, competitiveness and ability to adapt and thrive.”
And with 2011 now firmly behind us, our attention turns to the future and the next young apprentices to grace the stage at the 2012 EEF Future Manufacturing Awards. On behalf of everyone at EEF, we’d like to extend our thanks to all who entered the awards, making it the best ceremony to date and also all of our sponsors, in particular EAL and Rolls-Royce for supporting our apprenticeship categories.
If you think you’ve got what it takes to be a winner, entries for the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2012 open in March and you can pre-register your interest today.
