Plymouth’s outstanding construction and manufacturing apprentices have been recognised for their efforts and abilities at a virtual awards ceremony held as part of National Apprenticeship Week 2022.
The awards were led jointly by Building Plymouth and the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG), with nominations submitted by employers and training providers. A total of 46 apprentices were finalists and seven winners were presented with awards.
Emma Jarvis was awarded the Building Plymouth Construction Technical Apprentice of the Year 2022. Emma is undertaking a Higher Level 4 in building services engineering technician with engineering consultant Services Design Solutions (SDS) and Exeter College.
She said: “I am thrilled. The support I have received from my employer SDS has been fantastic and I would like to make a special mention to my mentor Johnathan Bradbury for his guidance over the last two years. I also thank Exeter College, who provide a brilliant opportunity and learning space.”
Mark Plant, regional director at SDS, said: “We hope Emma’s achievement inspires other women to join our fantastic construction industry where there are amazing career opportunities.”
Ellis Mitchell won the Ron Simmonds Construction Trade Apprentice of the Year Award. He is undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 in carpentry with Classic Builders and City College Plymouth, and thanked Classic Builders for the opportunities he has received and added: “ I’d also like to thank Fred Bennetton for taking me on and Kevin Hendy for continuous belief in me.”
Lewis Tolputt, business development manager at Classic Builders, said: “Ellis is a valued member of the Classic Builders team and his dedication to going the extra mile and helping those around him is faultless.”
The PMG manufacturing rising star apprentice was Daniel Rowe, of Groeneveld UK, who is undertaking a Level 3 advanced manufacturing engineering apprenticeship with Cornwall College. He said: “It meant so much to me that my company had put me through to the apprentice awards.”
Leanne Chubb, HR officer at Groeneveld UK, said: “Dan is enthusiastic and always willing to learn new skills, he has a positive attitude towards work and ready to take up any new challenges that are put to him.”
PMG’s business rising star apprentice went to Liam Spence, of Babcock International, who, as a commercial apprentice with City College Plymouth, is undertaking an operational/departmental manager pathway. He said: “I am excited to see what the future holds with Babcock, both within my apprenticeship scheme and beyond.”
Emma Willingham, Babcock’s commercial lead at its Devonport facility, said: “Liam is a credit to the apprentice scheme at Babcock..”
PMG’s manufacturing final year apprentice award was shared by Lauren Gage of BD, on a Level 3 mechatronics apprenticeship with Cornwall College, and James Wood, of MB Aerospace, undertaking a Level 4 apprenticeship as an engineering manufacturing technician at Exeter College. Lauren said: “I could not have gotten this far without my fellow colleagues coaching and mentoring me.”
BD’s Mark Jones said: “Lauren’s hunger for success, knowledge and progression is far beyond her years.”
James said: “At MB Aerospace I have been given such excellent guidance, training and experience throughout.”
Jamie Riggs, principal manufacturing engineer at MB Aerospace, said: “James thoroughly deserves this award, it's been a pleasure having him in this team.
The award for best PMG business final year apprentice went to Sophie Whitefield, at Princess Yachts, who is completing a Level 3 apprenticeship in business administration with South Devon College and City & Guilds.
She said: "Working at Princess is a privilege. To be able to play a hand in the development and manufacture of our exceptional range of yacht models on a daily basis is an honour."
Nick Smith, head of product planning at Princess Yachts, said: “Sophie always goes the extra (nautical) mile.”
Karen Friendship, PMG chair, said: “Plymouth’s Construction and Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year Awards has given us a great platform to shine a light on the amazing opportunities that an apprenticeship brings to employers, individuals and the economy.”
Building Plymouth Apprentice Award winners:
Ron Simmonds Trade of Apprentice of the Year
Winner: Ellis Mitchell (Classic Builders, City College Plymouth).
Highly commended: Tracy Perkin (LiveWest Homes Ltd, Focus Training Group).
Finalists: Bailey Doyle (Plymouth Community Homes, Focus Training), Ben Kerswell (Classic Builders, City College Plymouth), Bradley Evans (Chestnut Carpentry, Skills Group), David Phillips (Plymouth Community Homes, City College Plymouth), Evan Davies (XCAV8 South West Ltd, Skills Group), Joseph Broad (Stay Dry Roofing, Greenlight Safety & Training), Lewis Chapman (TEC Construction Holdings, City College Plymouth), Makenzie Horrell, (Stay Dry Roofing, Greenlight Safety & Training) Mason Hughes (Plymouth Community Homes, Focus Training), Nathan Owen (Barratt Developments, Stephenson College Leicester), Oliver Jones (BJO Construction, Skills Group), Ryan Rogers (Hallwell Projects, Skills Group), Sam Mcgowan (Classic Builders, City College Plymouth), Steven Price (Plymouth Community Homes, City College Plymouth).
Building Plymouth Technical Apprentice of the Year
Winner: Emma Jarvis (SDS, Exeter College).
Highly commended: Georgia Marshall (YGS Landscapes Ltd, Skills4Stem).
Finalists: Nathan Stock(Kier Construction, Exeter College), Sam Goodwin (SDS, Exeter College).
PMG Apprentice Award winners:
PMG Manufacturing Rising Star
Winner: Daniel Rowe (Groeneveld UK, Cornwall College).
Finalists: • Abbie Tucker (BD, Cornwall College), Amelia Bulley (Babcock, City College Plymouth), Andrei Hritcu (Olympus Algram, City College Plymouth), Bethan Haigh (MB Aerospace, Exeter College), Charlie Hill (Princess Yachts, South Devon College), Corey Stapleton (Oakmount Control Systems, City College Plymouth), Joe Coutts (Babcock, City College Plymouth), Kieran Foster (Oakmount Control Systems, Cornwall College), Kyle Whitford-Robson (Alderman Tooling, City College Plymouth), Lee Cooper (Olympus Algram, City College Plymouth), Ritchie Reynolds (Babcock, Trans Plant Mastertrain), Thomas Fyfe (Princess Yachts, South Devon College).
PMG Business Rising Star Apprentice
Winner: Liam Spence (Babcock, City College Plymouth).
Finalists: Chloe Mackie (Meddings Group, City College Plymouth), Lucy Wood (Princess Yachts, South Devon College).
PMG Manufacturing Final Year Apprentice
Winners: Lauren Gage (BD with Cornwall College), James Wood (MB Aerospace, Exeter College).
Finalists: Abbie West (BD, Cornwall College), Charlie Commander (Babcock, Trans Plant Mastertrain), Josh Ford (Babcock, City College Plymouth), Rhys Heslop (Olympus Algram, City College Plymouth), Sam Weaver (Babcock, City College Plymouth).
PMG Business Final Year Apprentice
Winner: Sophie Whitefield (Princess Yachts, South Devon College).
Finalists: Laura Stephens (Babcock, ATN Consultancy Training), Shauna McAteer (Babcock, City College Plymouth).
