South: Finalists named for Southern Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year
Five talented young people have been selected by judges as finalists for the Southern Manufacturing 100 Apprentice of the Year award.
This new award is part of the Manufacturing 100 campaign run by The Business Magazine, and supported by Lloyds Bank, MHA MacIntyre Hudson, JLT and Taylor Made Computer Solutions.
The award celebrates and recognises an apprentice's exceptional contribution to their workplace. Nominations were submitted for apprentices at various stages of their apprenticeship - across the manufacturing and engineering sectors.
The finalists are:
- Harrison Farthing
- Abbi Fisher
- Josh Gilbert
- Calan Kenward
- Chris Marrs
In more detail, Harrison Farthing is a precision machinist at AWE at Aldermaston. After three years hard work, he has just completed his apprenticeship and has gained a position in one of the company's flagship tech centres.
Abbi Fisher is an associate BIM engineer at BAE Systems in Portsmouth. She has been at the forefront of campaigns to encourage more women to take up roles in engineering and defence.
Josh Gilbert is a manufacturing engineer apprentice at Magal, at Woodley, near Reading. He is now nearing the end of his successful apprenticeship, and one of his proudest achievements is that, through the support of the company, friends and family, he has been able to overcome a stammer to being able to deliver a key presentation in front of his managing director and important customers.
Calan Kenwood is an apprentice manufacturing engineer at LG Motion in Basingstoke, where he has worked since September 2015. He is part way through his apprenticeship programme and is striving to become a chartered engineer.
Chris Marrs is a quality engineer at Xtrac, the motor sport specialist engineering company at Thatcham. Last year he won the company's own internal Apprentice of the Year programme.
"All five candidates are exceptional apprentices who stand out due to their commitment and tenacity," said Peter Laurie, head of client relations at The Business Magazine. "They are all 'champions' and we are looking forward to crowning one of them Apprentice of the Year at our special event at the Manufacturing Technology Centre in Coventry on October 31."
The special day at the MTC will include lunch and a tour of the centre. Any manufacturer who would like to attend should contact Pauline Moore at [email protected]
