It was an honour to recognise and celebrate the achievements of Apprentices, Mentors and Employers at our annual Apprenticeship Awards evening on 4 December. Attendees travelled from across the country to receive awards and celebrate the achievements of fellow winners. The evening saw two former apprentices give speeches on their apprenticeship journey and how their careers have developed; both were inspiring. From the award winners, parents, employers and work colleagues, there seemed to be a great sense of pride in the room.
Here are the award winners, along with a few words from MGTS staff…
- Mechanical Apprentice of the Year – Ollie Macvarish of Dennis Eagle
“Ollie has an exceptional mechanical aptitude. He developed knowledge and skills quickly, had a good eye for detail which enabled him to produce an excellent standard of workmanship very early on in his training. He was always enthusiastic and keen to learn. The level of application, motivation and effort applied by Ollie was exemplary and never waived throughout the whole for the first-year training period. He was an excellent group member and was well respected by his peers.” - Maintenance Apprentice of the Year – Jamie Tiff of PepsiCo
“From the outset Jamie performed consistently way above average, demonstrating an ability to quickly grasp new subject matter and apply the new skills and knowledge to produce tasks of the highest quality. His methodical, patient and thorough approach enabled him to maintain a high level of competence throughout the training year, performing exceptionally well in the fields of electrical maintenance, fluid power and mechanical maintenance. Jamie was always eager to stretch and challenge himself to improve his skills and knowledge once tasks had been completed.” - Most Improved Apprentice of the Year Coventry – Samuel Githinji of TGW Limited
“Samuel made relatively slow progress at the start of the training year but always gave 100% effort in whatever tasks he undertook. He has worked diligently on improving his occupational skills and knowledge and has a great ‘never give up attitude’ which has paid dividends. Always happy with a smile on his face, Samuel has now come on leaps and bounds and is achieving his full potential through hard work and determination.” - Most Improved Apprentice of the Year Redditch – Jake Webber of Heller
“Jake had a somewhat average start to the academic year recording only satisfactory grades. However, his desire and appetite for learning has been second to none and this has enabled progress to be made at a commendable pace. Jake has remained dedicated and focussed to the cause. The distance travelled from where he started to where he is now is testament Jake’s hard work and endeavour and this is why he was nominated by the staff for this award.” - Apprentices’ Apprentice of the Year Coventry – Daniel Fox of Warburtons
“Daniel has clearly gained a high level of trust and respect within his peer group. Interestingly he gained a number of votes from other learners in different groups within the Centre, thus demonstrating his likeable nature had spread throughout MGTS, due to his warm personality and character. Everybody just liked Daniel!” - Apprentices’ Apprentice of the Year Redditch – Harry Taylor of Heller
“Harry was nominated by his fellow apprentices because they thought he was an outstanding talent, good at everything he turned his hand to and always willing to offer support and guidance to his peers when needed. He has been a role model for all other apprentices to follow in the Centre. Some of the nomination comments included: ‘Always works hard, a good lad’, ‘Just a sound bloke, gets the job done’, ‘Consistent attendance, quality of work and positive attitude’, ‘Getting on a bit, but he’s a smart bloke’. - Apprentice of the Year Coventry – James Yates of Fine Lady Bakeries
“James has an exceptional mechanical aptitude. He developed knowledge and skills quickly, had a good eye for detail which enabled him to produce an excellent standard of workmanship, very early on in his training. The level of application, motivation and effort applied by James was exemplary and never wavered throughout the whole of the first year training period. He was an excellent group member and was well respected by his peers. He is a credit to himself and his company.” - FDME1st Year Apprentice of the Year Coventry – Jack Powell of Heineken
“Jack was exceptionally focussed in his approach. He demonstrated a positive attitude and remained enthusiastic and always motivated. He proved himself across several areas within the Training Centre during his first phase of training. He has good attention to detail, which then translates into producing workmanship of the highest quality. Jack was always willing to support and provide guidance to those that asked. His ability to maintain this high level of dedication and commitment is a credit it to him and he will undoubtedly flourish as the programme unfolds to become an excellent engineer within Heineken.” - Apprentice of the Year Redditch – Owen Ashman of Konecranes
“Owen has a fantastic approach to his apprenticeship and the opportunity that Kone Cranes have given him. He is dedicated, enthusiastic, motivated and fully understands what is expected of him. His positive attitude and overall application were excellent. He has an eye for attention to detail and always tried to produce work of the highest order. He remained fully engaged from day one, whatever the task. Owen has been an absolute pleasure to teach and train and he is in fact a role model to others as to what the perfect apprentice should look like.” - FDME1st Year Apprentice of the Year Redditch – Oliver Walker of Morrisons
“Oliver produced an exceptional performance throughout his training, consistently demonstrating a high level of engagement, motivation and interest whilst producing work of the highest quality. His application and approach to every area of training undertook was exemplary, coupled with a mature professional positive attitude. Oliver was always fully engaged, very polite and well mannered.” - BTEC 1st Year Apprentice of the Year Coventry – Georgia Brown of Triumph
“Georgia’s attitude towards learning and her development has been exceptional. What made her stand out above a lot of her peers is her work ethic. Even if she finds something difficult, she will ask the right questions to fully understand what she is required to do and consequently her level of submissions for her assignments has been of a very high standard. I fully expect, with Georgia’s level of tenacity and commitment, she will excel as she continues into her engineering career.” - BTEC 1st Year Apprentice of the Year Redditch – McKensie Perry of Kion Group
“McKensie has demonstrated exceptional perseverance, dedication, and drive. Despite facing challenges that make classroom learning more complex for him, he consistently approaches every task with determination and a positive attitude. He never allows obstacles to limit him. Instead, he works harder, asks questions, and applies himself fully to mastering new skills. His ability to stay focused, motivated, and proactive has resulted in good progress through the course.” - BTEC Programme Apprentice of the Year Coventry – Daniel Andrews of Ball Packaging
“Daniel is a student that delivered and performed at an outstanding level regarding his work ethic, knowledge and attitude. Throughout his BTEC studies his work has been of a very high standard, but what makes him stand out is his demeanour, maturity and disciplined approach to his education and his career. When we see him return for the HNC programme we have no doubt he will carry this forward.” - BTEC Programme Apprentice of the Year Redditch – Jacob Gates of Thorlux
“Jacob has consistently demonstrated strong mathematical capability and a clear aptitude for technical problem-solving. He approached tasks with focus, confidence, and accuracy, often progressing beyond the expected standard. His analytical thinking and natural engineering intuition mark him out as someone with significant potential in the field. With his strong foundation in mathematics and quick learning ability, he is exceptionally well-positioned to become a highly capable engineer. I have no doubt he will excel as he continues his studies and develops his professional career.” - BTEC Block Release Award – Rebecca Kirkham of Warburtons
“Becky is a grafter and was a pleasure to teach. Her level of detail in her work and ability to ensure she has asked the right questions to be able to deliver on her submissions is fantastic. I know that it has been challenging at times, but her attitude and perseverance and resilience have made her standout as a block release student. She should be really proud of what she’s achieved.” - HNC Highly Commended – Daniel Wild of Heller
“Daniel has been an absolute standout this year and his tutors are genuinely pleased to award him the HNC Highly Commended Award. His performance from start to finish has been nothing short of brilliant. He consistently produces excellent work and shows real skill, focus, and commitment in everything he does. Daniel’s positive attitude, willingness to get stuck in, and enthusiasm in lessons have all played a big part in his success. We’re incredibly proud of everything Daniel has achieved so far, and we’re excited to see what he goes on to accomplish as he continues his journey in engineering.” - HNC Programme Apprentice of the Year – Adam Percival of PepsiCo
“This award truly reflects the hard work, determination, and commitment Adam has shown throughout his time on the programme. From the very start, Adam approached his studies with enthusiasm and a real passion for learning. He never backed down from a challenge and consistently pushed himself to achieve the highest standards. His overall Distinction grade is a clear reflection of that effort and dedication. What has always stood out to his tutors is Adam’s proactive attitude. He takes responsibility for his learning, asks thoughtful questions, and always aims to deepen his understanding. It’s been inspiring to see how his approach has positively influenced those around him. We are incredibly proud of everything Adam has achieved, and we have no doubt that his drive and talent will lead him to even greater success as he moves forward in his engineering career.” - FDME Apprentice Graduate – Aldrin Mendonca of Greencore
“Aldrin has an apprenticeship certificate that says ‘Distinction’. We acknowledge that he has lived that word – in his results, in his work on site, in his support for others, and in the example he sets for every apprentice who will follow. It is a privilege to present the Graduate Apprentice of the Year award to someone who has turned distinction from a grade into a habit.” Bob Lynn – Training & Development Adviser - Advanced Apprentice Graduate – Adam Percival of PepsiCo
“Throughout his apprenticeship journey Adam consistently demonstrated exceptional dedication and capability, always creating top quality task reports and underpinning knowledge answers. This helped him to achieve one of the MGTS Apprentice of the Year awards every single year and this year he has achieved two – an achievement that speaks for itself. On top of that Adam gained distinctions for his BTEC and HNC. As he continues to establish himself in his current role as a Shift Technician/Shift Engineer, I have no doubt that his progression through the company will follow naturally.” Russ Brown – Training & Development Adviser - Mentor Recognition Awards
The role of the Mentor is undoubtedly of paramount importance to the training and development of the apprentice in the workplace; without Mentors the focus is lost. These people are the unsung heroes of apprenticeships and have the responsibility for developing the next generation of engineers. MGTS is very pleased to celebrate the recognition of four such outstanding dedicated Mentors who have been nominated by the MGTS company TDA for their support in developing their apprentices.
– Denis Bailey of Britvic
– Paul Lewis of Keller
– Shaune Topham of Molson Coors
– Nathan Wheedon of Saputo - Employer Recognition Awards
Each year we look to recognise the commitment that employers make to their apprenticeships, supporting the development of young people starting their engineering careers. The companies we have recognised this year not only show these commitments year on year but also take the time to discuss with MGTS how programmes may be developed and utilised to suit the developing needs of industry and developing technologies. Congratulations to:
– 3P Innovation
– Amtico
– PepsiCo
– TGW Limited
Thank you and congratulations to everyone involved. Until next year…