MGTS Annual Apprentice Awards September 2009 - First Year Mechanical Apprentice of the Year and Apprentices' Apprentice of the Year
Mechanical Apprentice of the Year and First Year Apprentices Apprentice of the Year
Connor Walker
Age: 19
From: Coventry
Company: Unipart Eberspacher, Foleshill
Coventry youngster Connor Walker was named Mechanical Apprentice of the Year and First Year Apprentices Apprentice of the Year at the MGTS annual awards ceremony, held last night at the Ricoh Arena.
Double award winner Connor said: "I was surprised to win two awards. It''s been great - I have made new friends, learned new skills and begun a new career path."
Connor, aged 19, of Coventry, has just completed his first year of training with MGTS and finds it suits him down to the ground.
He was taking AS levels at Cardinal Newman School when a visit from an engineering education scheme made him realise he wanted to get out and take on a modern apprenticeship instead.
He said: “I genuinely hated being stuck in the classroom. We had to solve an engineering problem as part of the visit and I thought I’d quite like to try this as a job.”
He said: “I learned a fair bit I didn’t know before. I did engineering at GCSE but I learned a lot more technical aspects of machining than I would have learned at any other level.”
After gaining two distinctions, a merit and a pass in end of year assessments he is now working at Unipart in Foleshill and said: “At the moment I’m in the support service department, doing maintenance and making different parts for machines in case they break down.
“Training at MGTS was good. I would recommend an apprenticeship to anyone if they just want to get out of the classroom, this is the best way forward.”
Steve Palmer, Technical Centre Manager for MGTS in Gulson Road, Stoke, Coventry, said: “Connor is very pleasant to work with, is very motivated and has good communication skills. He has a very positive attitude towards his work and always works diligently to the best of his ability to achieve his potential. He has produced a good standard of work and is very good at working on his own initiative and at problem solving.”
Connor 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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