It was with great pleasure that we recently held our annual Apprenticeship Awards, with over a hundred guests joining us from far and wide for an evening of celebration. The awards acknowledge the achievements of first year apprentices through to graduates, plus also give recognition to mentors and companies who go above and beyond to nurture their engineering talent.
The event was opened by Giles Lawton, our Chair of Trustees, who recognised the importance of engineering apprenticeships within Industry and highlighted the wonderful work that our Board of Trustees do to support MGTS across all areas of the business.
Without further ado, welcome to the 2024 winners…
MECHANICAL APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – SAMUEL HOMER of LEAR CORPORATION
“Sam has an exceptional mechanical aptitude. He developed knowledge and skills quickly which enabled him to produce an excellent standard of workmanship very early on in his training. The level of application, motivation and effort demonstrated by Sam was consistent across the academic year. The staff called him ‘Mr Invisible’ as he required very little support or assistance and just got on with his work. Always first to start and always first to finish, but above all always producing high quality workpieces.”
MAINTENANCE APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – HAYDN RIX of CARLSBERG MARSTON’S BREWING COMPANY
“From the outset Haydn performed consistently well above average, demonstrating an ability to quickly grasp subject matter and apply his new skills and knowledge to produce tasks of the highest quality. His methodical, patient and thorough approach enables him to maintain a high level of competence, performing exceptionally well in the fields of electrical maintenance, fluid power and mechanical maintenance. He had a natural aptitude for automation, PLC’s and fault finding.”
MOST IMPROVED APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – COVENTRY – OWEN MORRISON of WARBURTONS
“Owen made relatively slow progress at the start of the training year, achieving only average grades. Once settled, through perseverance and endeavour he grew in confidence and ability, producing work of an excellent standard. He undertook many additional tasks to cement his level of understanding and gradually Owen’s potential began to materialise, demonstrating a consistently high standard of workmanship.”
MOST IMPROVED APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – REDDITCH – MATTHEW BLUNDALL of WARBURTONS
“Matthew had an average start to the academic year recording only satisfactory grades. Half-way through the year we saw the new focussed, engaged Matthew whose full potential was now starting to shine through with significantly improved performance and grades. The distance travelled from where he started to where he is now is testament to Matthew’s hard work and endeavour.”
APPRENTICES’ APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – COVENTRY – COLE JOHNSON of CEMBRE
“Cole was nominated by his peers because he’s just a ‘really nice person’ who got on well with everyone in the Centre, apprentices and staff alike. With his warming personality and character he was always willing to assist and support others within his group wherever he could.”
APPRENTICES’ APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – REDDITCH – JACK PURCHASE of INGERSOLL RAND
“Jack was nominated by his fellow apprentices because they thought he was an outstanding talent and good at everything he turned his hand to. He was always willing to offer support and guidance to his peers and has been a role model for all other apprentices to follow in the Centre.”
BTEC 1ST YEAR RECOGNITION AWARD – COVENTRY – JAMES BUTCHER of PEPSICO
“James has consistently demonstrated a mature and dedicated attitude towards his learning, setting a shining example for his peers. His commitment to excellence is reflected in the consistently high-quality work he submits, showcasing his attention to detail and thorough understanding of the subject matter.”
BTEC 1ST YEAR RECOGNITION AWARD – REDDITCH – STEWART STRINGER of BLUE EARTH FOODS
“Stewart’s hard work and mature attitude towards learning have been key to his success, enabling him to achieve an impressive set of results, including three Distinctions, one Merit, and one Pass for his assignments. His unwavering determination and great attitude have been instrumental in driving his improvement and helping him achieve higher grades as he progressed throughout the year.”
BTEC 1ST YEAR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – COVENTRY – LILI WILKINSON of TRIUMPH
“Lili has demonstrated an exceptional level of commitment and excellence throughout her apprenticeship so far, achieving an outstanding set of results with four Distinctions and a Merit. She consistently brings a positive attitude to her lessons and has proven to be a highly engaged and motivated learner. Lili is always eager to expand her knowledge, and takes every opportunity to challenge herself and grow both academically and professionally.”
BTEC 1ST YEAR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – REDDITCH – JACOB GATES of THORLUX
“Jacob has demonstrated a mature and focused attitude towards his learning, consistently producing high-quality work that reflects his dedication and attention to detail. His enthusiasm for learning, combined with a positive mindset, has set him apart as an exemplary apprentice with great potential for future success.”
BTEC PROGRAMME RECOGNITION AWARD – COVENTRY – MUAAZ SHAIKH of PNEURIDE
“Muaaz has consistently demonstrated an outstanding work ethic, maintaining a high level of effort throughout the year and delivering work of exceptional quality in his assignments. His enthusiasm for learning is evident in his proactive approach to acquiring new knowledge and skills, always keen to engage with the material and never hesitant to ask thoughtful questions. This inquisitive mindset, combined with his dedication and drive, has made Muaaz a standout apprentice and an inspiration to his peers.”
BTEC PROGRAMME RECOGNITION AWARD – REDDITCH – ADAM MORRIS of UK-NSI
“Adam has consistently demonstrated an outstanding level of effort throughout the year, producing high-quality work that reflects his commitment to excellence. His enthusiasm for learning and proactive approach, characterised by his eagerness to ask questions and deepen his understanding, have made him a standout apprentice.”
BTEC PROGRAMME APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – COVENTRY – JAMIE HURST of QUARTZELEC
“Jamie has consistently displayed an exceptional level of effort and dedication throughout the year. His commitment to producing high-quality work in his assignments has set a benchmark for excellence, reflecting on his passion for engineering. His unwavering focus and determination to succeed have been evident in every aspect of his studies, earning him well-deserved recognition among his peers and tutors. Jamie’s achievements not only highlight his capabilities as a learner but also underline his potential for a bright and successful career in engineering.”
BTEC PROGRAMME APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – REDDITCH – LOUIS EVANS of HELLER
“Louis has consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and effort throughout the year, producing work of the highest quality in his assignments. His commitment to excellence and his ability to maintain such high standards are a testament to his hard work, focus, and passion for engineering.”
BTEC BLOCK RELEASE AWARD – LEWIS WYLDE of WARBURTONS
“Lewis has consistently shown a fantastic attitude towards learning, approaching every opportunity with enthusiasm and a genuine eagerness to engage in lessons. His proactive mindset and willingness to immerse himself in the material have been instrumental in his success, enabling him to produce work of consistently high quality throughout his assignments.”
HNC 1ST YEAR RECOGNITION AWARD – COVENTRY – ADAM PERCIVAL of PEPSICO
“Throughout the year, Adam has consistently produced work of an exceptionally high standard, reflecting both his technical proficiency and his thorough understanding of the subject matter. His great attitude towards learning, combined with a keen desire to engage in lessons and expand his knowledge, has made him a standout student and an exemplary role model for his peers.”
HNC 1ST YEAR RECOGNITION AWARD – REDDITCH – STEPHANIE ROSE of HOWARD S COOKE
“Stephanie’s performance throughout the year has been nothing short of outstanding. She consistently produces work of the highest standard, demonstrating her aptitude and unwavering commitment to excellence. Stephanie’s great attitude towards learning, combined with her enthusiasm to engage actively in lessons, has played a key role in her success. Her dedication to achieving consistently high-quality results across her assignments reflects her exceptional work ethic and her genuine passion for engineering.”
HNC PROGRAMME OF THE YEAR – PAVAN DHADDY of MISSION FOODS
“Pavan has consistently demonstrated a passion for learning, approaching every challenge with enthusiasm and an unwavering commitment to excellence. His drive to achieve the highest standards is evident in his remarkable accomplishment of earning an overall Distinction grade for his HNC. As an outstanding learner, Pavan’s proactive approach and consistent pursuit of academic excellence have not only set him apart but also serve as an inspiration to his peers.”
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – COVENTRY – DANIEL ANDREWS of BALL PACKAGING
“Daniel proved able to adapt to any training scenario and produce work of the highest quality. He is thorough in his approach to all practical and theoretical aspects of the programme. He understands what is expected of him, picking up new processes and practices quickly which accelerates his ability to develop skills, knowledge and competence. His enthusiasm and thirst to learn was incredible!”
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – REDDITCH – ALFIE ARMSTRONG of LEAR CORPORATION
“Alfie has a fantastic approach to his apprenticeship and the opportunity that Lear has given him. He is dedicated, enthusiastic, motivated and fully understands what is expected of him. His positive attitude and overall application is excellent and he has an eye for attention detail required to produce work of the highest order. He has remained fully engaged from day one and he has been a pleasure to teach and train. He is in fact a role model to others as to what the perfect apprentice should look like.”
ADVANCED APPRENTICE GRADUATE AWARD – COVENTRY – SEAN WILLIAMS of DENNIS EAGLE
“Sean has always taken a mature approach to his training and has impressed all with his hard work and dedication, remaining committed to developing himself on the theoretical and practical parts of the apprenticeship. He always took on board any feedback ensuring that he actioned this to further develop. On completion of his first year at MGTS he saw the value in working on the Production footprints within Dennis Eagle, building the vehicles before then moving into the office and Design areas. Sean completed his BTEC Level 3 Diploma (Distinction), HNC Level 4 Diploma (Merit) and then went on to successfully pass the End Point Assessment of the apprenticeship, excelling in the interview.”
ADVANCED APPRENTICE GRADUATE AWARD – REDDITCH – DANIEL PAYNE of THORLUX
“Daniel, a Product Design and Development Technician, is commended for his exceptional performance throughout his apprenticeship, notably his proficiency in concept feasibility, design, and development. His successful completion of the programme and his valuable contributions to research, prototyping, and problem-solving have made him an invaluable asset to Thorlux Lighting.”
FDME 1ST YEAR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – COVENTRY – JACK RANCE of CRANSWICK
“Jack is exceptionally focussed in his approach. He demonstrates a positive attitude, remaining enthusiastic and motivated at all times. Jack has good attention to detail, which then translates into producing workmanship of the highest quality. Always willing to support and provide guidance to his peers he will undoubtedly flourish as the programme unfolds to become an excellent engineer within Cranswick.”
FDME 1ST YEAR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – REDDITCH – ALEKSANDRA MAZUREK of SAPUTO
“Aleksandra was an exceptional learner throughout her training, consistently demonstrating a high level of engagement, motivation and interest, producing work of the highest quality. Her exemplary application and approach to every area of training, coupled with a mature professional positive attitude made her a force to be reckoned with.”
FDME 2ND YEAR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – DANIEL COOK of CPC FOODS
“Daniel demonstrated a fantastic work ethic and thirst for knowledge in the second year of his apprenticeship. During his time at the Centre his commitment to learning and attention to detail resulted in him producing an excellent quality of work.”
FDME 3RD YEAR APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR – KYLE CLARKE of MORRISONS
“Kyle has performed extremely well over all three phases of training, demonstrating a real understanding of the engineering principles and occupational role requirements for the Food and Drink industry. As well as always being willing to support and encourage others he is enthusiastic, fully engaged, committed to success and applies himself well in all that he undertakes. The result – exceptional quality of work produced.”
FDME APPRENTICE GRADUATE AWARD – COVENTRY – SORINA SABAU of SAPUTO
“From the outset of her apprenticeship journey Sorina always put in 100% effort and commitment into whatever she attempted, whether it be practical or theoretical work. This has not gone unnoticed by her employer and she was duly seconded by the Group Engineering Manager to help support a variety of projects. Sorina concluded her apprenticeship gaining a Distinction at End Point Assessment and has now taken her passion for engineering and high expectations to the next level by becoming a key figure for the mentoring of current apprentices at Saputo Nuneaton.”
FDME APPRENTICE GRADUATE AWARD – REDDITCH – KYLE MORRIS of MORRISONS
“Kyle overcame numerous challenges during the course of his apprenticeship – from staying away from home for the phases of delivery in Redditch, to transferring for 12 months from the Deeside site of Morrisons in Wales to the Winsford facility in England due to Apprenticeship funding rules. He established himself well there, getting on with the other engineers and apprentices. He did not let this slow down his learning and managed to complete the work-based assignments required for the Level 3 Diploma qualification on time, achieving a Distinction overall. When returning to Deeside at the end of his third year, Kyle continued to push himself and was in one of the first waves of his cohort to get through the gruelling 12-week End Point Assessment, achieving a Merit grade.”
MENTOR RECOGNITION AWARDS
DARREN COPE of ENGEL
“Darren has been a key figure in the development of the apprentices at Engel. His vast knowledge and experience within the Company allows him to ensure that the apprentices get exposure on a variety of different jobs, working with different engineers across their customers’ sites nationwide. Darren is always present during the apprentice reviews and drives the apprentices to keep on top of their written work, identifying time for them to complete this on a regular basis.”
NICK LINGARD of WARBURTONS
“Nick listens to his apprentices whilst ensuring all training needs are met. He looks ahead long term and can see the value of additional qualifications such as the HNC. Nick’s was the first Warburtons site to work with MGTS and he embraced our way of working, ensuring continuity of message of what the apprentice requirements are, which means they succeeded in a timely fashion with one apprentice now becoming Deputy Shift Lead less than a year outside of his apprenticeship.”
ADAM KUBIT of AMTICO
“Adam leads by example. He listens to what is required and is very helpful in ensuring all aspects of training are covered practically and documented. The apprentices appreciate his support and clear leadership, respecting that whatever he requests practically needs to be completed within a reasonable timeframe. His apprentices want to impress him with an excellent performance each and every day.”
CHRIS FAGAN of GREENCORE
“Chris’s supportive and hands-on approach has been instrumental in guiding his apprentices through their professional journey. His keen interest in their progress and proactive stance in providing additional support have created an environment where apprentices feel valued and empowered to excel in their roles. This level of engagement not only fosters their technical skills but also nurtures their confidence and professional growth. Chris’s mentorship style goes beyond mere supervision. He actively listens to his apprentices, understanding their individual needs and tailoring his guidance accordingly. This personalised approach ensures that each apprentice receives the specific support they require to thrive in their role and overcome any obstacles they may encounter.”
EMPLOYER RECOGNITION AWARDS
SAPUTO – When MGTS embarked on a new direction in apprenticeship delivery models in 2012, Saputo (formerly Dairy Crest) were at the heart of the foundations that were put in place, which formed the basis to MGTS’ national apprenticeship delivery. Year on year Saputo have supported engineering apprenticeship recruitment not just locally in Warwickshire, but in the North West and South West regions maintaining their long term relationship and business support to MGTS.
DENNIS EAGLE – Working in partnership for over 30 years, MGTS recognises the company’s ongoing support and commitment to engineering apprenticeship programs. Recruiting year on year, Dennis Eagle has trained and developed over 50 engineering apprentices, many of whom have progressed into senior roles within the business. This is testament to the development opportunities and career security afforded by the company. We look forward to continuing our long-term relationship with Dennis Eagle and thank them for the support and commitment they provide to both their apprentices and MGTS.
QUARTZELEC – The long-term relationship between Quartzelec and MGTS stems from the business recognising the need to succession plan its future. These plans have resulted in a Company apprenticeship programme with over 20 apprentices in learning across a range of different engineering occupational roles. For the programme be successful it is vital a high degree of trust and confidence across both parties is in existence. MGTS recognises this alongside the ongoing support from Quartzelec when making decisions and structuring apprenticeship programmes.
SAMUEL TAYLOR – One of our long-standing partners in the Redditch area, Samuel Taylor Ltd have made a much-recognised commitment to supporting engineering apprenticeships and developing engineers for the future of their business. Samuel Taylor is particularly recognised for recruiting and nurturing an increasing cohort of Toolmaking apprentices in order to future proof this specialist precision engineering role.