Luke Pearson Advanced Apprentices Graduate Award
Advanced Apprentices Graduate Award
Luke Pearson
Age: 21
From: West Hunsbury, Northampton
Company: Cummins Inc, Daventry
Luke Pearson was delighted to have his achievements to date recognised, when he was announced as the winner of the Advanced Apprentice Graduate Award, at the annual ceremony held by MGTS at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry. This is a prestigious award and the criteria for selection are based on employer’s recommendations as well as MGTS senior management team. Recipients of this award are also nominated for the EEF Outstanding Achievement by a Final Year Apprentice Award.
"I was surprised and very pleased - I will definitely be able to use this in the future as it will be good for my CV. MGTS has been very supportive and has offered well structured training with Training and Development Advisers always there to offer help if needed,” he said.
Manufacturing engineer Luke’s career is off to a flying start: he has just completed his four-year advanced apprenticeship with Midlands Group Training Services, an educational charity based in Gulson Road, Coventry.
Luke inherited an interest in engineering from his father, who runs his own engineering firm in Daventry. At his father’s suggestion, he applied to Cummins Inc in Daventry as an apprentice at 17, and spent his first year there studying full-time at Warwickshire College, Rugby.
For the following three years, Luke continued studying at Warwickshire College under the supervision of MGTS. On day release from Cummins, he completed his ONC and HNC in manufacturing and engineering, and enrolled to study for an BSc in Engineering & Manufacturing at Northampton University.
‘MGTS was great,’ he says. ‘My TDA (Training and Development Advisor) Dave Jones came in to Cummins every month to monitor my progress and offer support, enabling me to complete my NVQ Level 3 eight months early.’
Dave Jones comments, ‘Luke is a highly motivated and extremely competent young man, with a very bright future ahead of him.’
Luke is being sponsored through University by Cummins, and once he has achieved his BSc hopes to continue studying for his MEng, perhaps at Warwick University.
‘Dividing my time between studying and working works really well,’ he says. ‘Being able to put what I’m learning into practice every week means all the theory makes much more sense more quickly.’
With several awards under his belt already, including Warwickshire College Apprentice of the Year in 2006, and Cummins Apprentice of the Year twice in 2006 and 2008, Luke has now reached the finals of the National Apprentice of the Year Award.
‘Ultimately I’d like to build a career in project management, taking on more responsibility and bigger projects,’ he says.
Luke was one of 14 adults and young people singled out for awards for excellence at MGTS’ annual awards event (September 21, 2009).
The ceremony was attended by more than 200 guests from Coventry, Warwickshire and the surrounding areas, including apprentices, graduates, employers, schools, and representatives from Dudley College and the Learning and Skills Council Coventry and Warwickshire.
Daniel Gidney, Chief Executive of the Ricoh arena and an awards presenter at the ceremony, said: "We are delighted to be able to host this ceremony for the second year running. I am also delighted to be associated with MGTS which breathes success, inspiration and development. We are now coming out of recession in the city and everyone in this room is part of that regeneration. You are all a fabulous credit to Coventry."
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