Local construction and manufacturing apprentices’ achievements celebrated
Outstanding local construction and manufacturing apprentices have been recognised for their skills and high standards demonstrated in their efforts and achievements at an awards ceremony held as part of Plymouth’s National Apprenticeship Week 2024.
The Apprentice of the Year Awards were presented jointly by Building Plymouth and the Plymouth Manufacturers’ Group (PMG), with nominations submitted by local construction and manufacturing employers and training providers, with the awards recognising 45 talented finalist and winning apprentices who were celebrated at the ceremony held at Market Hall, Devonport.
Introducing the awards ceremony, Cllr Sally Cresswell, Cabinet Member for Education, Skills and Apprenticeships at Plymouth City Council said: “It is fitting to be holding this celebration in National Apprenticeship Week 2024 with the theme ‘Skills for Life,’ a good chance to reflect on how the opportunity to ‘earn while you learn’ can help both young people to start their career journey and adults to change career direction. Today’s apprentice awards truly represent the very best of achievement in two of Plymouth’s high growth sectors: construction and the built environment, and manufacturing and engineering. This important week and our Awards today, presents us with a great platform to shine a light on the amazing opportunities that an apprenticeship brings to employers, individuals and the economy. I thank all our local employers and training providers who continue to invest and support our apprentices. I am delighted to be able to share a personal congratulations to everyone celebrated.”
During the celebration, Daniel Alford was presented the highly respected Ron Simmonds Construction Trade Apprentice of the Year 2024 Award. Being recognised through his successful Level 3 Installation and Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship with ME Contracting Ltd and The Focus Training Group, Daniel said: “From first meeting my employer ME Contracting at the Building Plymouth Early Careers Fair in 2022 to today, I’ve really enjoyed my apprenticeship hands-on experience and training provided by Focus Training. Thank you for the recognition and I hope winning this award provides a springboard for my career.”
Next up, Elijah Bennett was awarded the prestigious Building Plymouth Technical Apprentice of the Year 2024 Award. Employed by the innovative service Shared Apprenticeships and hosted by Kier Construction with Exeter College, undertaking a Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor apprenticeship, on winning the award Elijah said: “Thank you for the award, it is an honour to be recognised. Thank you to both Kier Construction and Shared Apprentices for support during my apprenticeship journey. I look forward to the future and developing within my career.”
Presenting the construction apprentice awards, Nikki Griffiths, Partner at WWA and Vice- Chair of Building Plymouth said: “I was delighted and honoured to be able to present the awards to the outstanding Apprentices we have in the local Construction and Built Environment industry. It is great to see such a diverse range of skills being recognised and the pride everyone showed in winning their awards. It certainly felt that the industry is in a good place and is attracting such talented people to build their careers in a fantastic diverse range of roles. Building Plymouth has championed the various pathways to the work environment through many different routes and this is testament to its success in promoting construction as a career of choice.”
At the awards ceremony, these Finalist, Highly Commended and Winning construction were all celebrated for their success and commended for the high standards they have shown in their achievements and skills developed during their apprenticeships.
Full listing of apprentices recognised at the awards:
Building Plymouth Apprentices 2024 – Trade and Technical
Winner – The Ron Simmonds Trade of Apprentice of the Year 2024
Daniel Alford with ME Contracting Ltd and The Focus Training Group undertaking a Level 3 Installation and Maintenance Electrician apprenticeship.
Highly Commended – The Ron Simmonds Trade Apprentice of the Year 2024
Jake Smith with Western Counties Roofing and Greenlight Safety and Training, undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Roofing- Slater/Tiler apprenticeship
Ysabella Payn with The Bell Group and City College Plymouth, undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Painter and Decorator apprenticeship
Finalists – The Ron Simmonds Trade Apprentice of the Year 2024:
Adam Burford with LS Plastering and Building Limited and Greenlight Safety and Training, undertaking a Level 2 Plastering apprenticeship
Amy Dannan with New Barton Contracts Limited and Greenlight Safety and Training undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Interior Systems Installer apprenticeship
Andrei Avasiloaie with Classic Builders and Skills Group undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Groundworks apprenticeship
Charlie Parker with Simon Brown Roofing and Greenlight Training undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Roofing Apprenticeship – Slate and Tile
Connor McKay with Plymouth Community Homes and Greenlight Safety and Training undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Plastering apprenticeship
David Clifton with TEC Construction and City College Plymouth undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Carpentry apprenticeship
Ellie King with LiveWest and The Focus Training Group undertaking an Advanced Level 3 Electrotech apprenticeship
George Anderson with DB Heating Ltd and City College Plymouth undertaking an Advanced Level 3 Plumbing and Domestic heating Technician apprenticeship
Jack Glanville with Shopfitting by SWS Ltd and Greenlight Safety and Training undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Carpentry & Joinery – Site Carpenter apprenticeship
Jessica Dustan with Daniel Bowskill and South Devon College undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Bricklaying apprenticeship
Josh Hughes with Haybrook Heating and The Focus Training Group undertaking an Advanced Level 3 Gas Engineer apprenticeship
Lewis Chapman with TEC Construction and City College Plymouth undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Carpentry apprenticeship
Lewis Round with Stormforce Roofing and South Devon College undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Roofing apprenticeship
Lewis Smith with Obedair Ltd and City College Plymouth undertaking an Advanced Level 3 Carpentry apprenticeship
Luke Mason with WF Carpentry/Cornwall Timber Build and Greenlight Safety and Training undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Carpentry and Joinery – site carpentry apprenticeship
Matthew Harvey with Award Plastering Ltd and Greenlight Safety and Training undertaking an Intermediate level 2 Interior Systems Installer apprenticeship
Rowan David with TEC Construction and City College Plymouth undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Carpentry apprenticeship
Travis James with Hallwell Projects Ltd and Skills Group undertaking an Intermediate Level 2 Bricklaying apprenticeship
Tyler Coombes with TEC Construction and City College Plymouth undertaking an Advanced Level 3 Carpentry apprenticeship
Winner – Building Plymouth Technical Apprentice of the Year 2024
Elijah Bennett with Shared Apprenticeship Service and hosted by Kier Construction with Exeter College, undertaking a Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor apprenticeship
Highly Commended – Building Plymouth Technical Apprentice of the Year 2024
Lily Frewin with Morgan Sindall and South Devon College , undertaking a Higher Level 4 Construction Site Supervisor apprenticeship
Harison Elliot with Currie and Brown and UWE Bristol, undertaking a Degree Apprenticeship Level 6 in Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management