The achievements of a budding young South Yorkshire engineer have been honoured at a prestigious national awards ceremony.
Liam Jones, 18, an apprentice at DavyMarkham, achieved the Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice runner-up accolade at EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2011.
The teenager’s potential was recognised after he hosted a presentation to four leading engineers from Rolls Royce, EAL Systems and EEF in a Dragon’s Den style interview. Liam also had to submit a detailed application showcasing the projects he has worked on and his future ambitions.
Liam, of Sunnyside, Rotherham, said: "I’m really pleased, but shocked to receive a prize especially as there were hundreds of entrants from some of the country’s leading manufacturing companies.
"The awards ceremony was really exciting and the atmosphere was brilliant. I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship at DavyMarkham and this is the icing on the cake to my first year with the company."
Liam’s apprenticeship will lead to an NVQ Level 3 in Engineering and he is also studying for a BTEC National Diploma in Engineering at Rotherham College of Arts and Technology.
He was one of 400 apprentices competing for the award from companies such as Tata Steel, BAE Systems, ITM Power and Ford Aerospace. The awards celebrated apprentices who have seized training and development opportunities to further their careers.
DavyMarkham’s apprentice programme, supported by Brinsworth Training, has gone from strength to strength, with 15 currently in training. The apprenticeships, which cost the company £100,000 annually, last between three and four years depending on competence and commitment and the roles include mechanical and electrical maintenance, fabrication and welding, machine shop and production fitting.
Peter Kerfoot, apprentice training manager at DavyMarkham, said: "Liam is an excellent machining apprentice who has done really well and everyone is really proud of him. He has applied himself with an excellent attitude towards his work, other apprentices and supervision. As an apprentice he has made a valuable contribution to the company in his short time at DavyMarkham.
"We get a huge interest in our apprenticeship scheme and the calibre of applications is rising all the time. We are always delighted when our apprentices are recognised for the superb work they do."