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Apprentice takes award back to school

It has been a week for looking forward but also back for apprentice Process Operator Alex Ogden.

Named Process Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year by Trafford College - to mark his outstanding progress on his apprenticeship - he took the award back to his old school, Wilmslow High, the very next day, to extol the values of in-work training to pupils.

Alex, 19, from Handforth, near Manchester, is learning his trade at the Bramhall Fuel Terminal – which is operated and managed by the px Group.

Working on all things operational, he is totally immersed in the job and supported by experienced operatives in handling maintenance tasks, reports and the day to day running of the facility. He is already ahead of schedule with his apprenticeship - which he hopes to complete in 2017.

He said: “I wasn’t expecting the award but I’m obviously pleased my hard work has been recognised. It is great to be able to come back to school to talk about apprenticeships and show that you don’t have to go to university to be successful.

“In three years’ time I’ll be fully qualified, experienced and earning a good wage. I also think that getting into the routine of going to work each day is more suited to some people than campus life and it offers the opportunity to earn while you learn.

“Maybe people feel pressured into going on to university after sixth form but my advice would be, if you aren’t completely sure that it is for you, don’t do it. There are other opportunities out there and a good apprenticeship with a good college and company might well be the better option.”

Growing energy and process industry specialist, the px Group, has stepped up its commitment to training in recent years – employing more apprentices than at any time since being established in 2002.

The North East headquartered business has six apprentices in place, with four more due to join this month. Local apprenticeship champion George Ritchie, MBE, joined the group as an associate director in 2015, as the company’s drive to invest in the workforce of tomorrow took on an even higher priority.

Ian Clifford, Chief Executive with the px Group, said: “The future of our business and indeed all businesses, lies with the younger generations coming through and that is why we place so much store by investing in training and apprenticeships.

“Alex is to be congratulated, not just for his award but for the progress he has made, his attitude to work and his willingness to show young people the kind of apprenticeship opportunities that are available, passing on his knowledge and experience to those about to take the next step in their career development.”

Charlie Mitchell, Alex’s Work Based Assessor at Trafford College added: “Alex has taken to the Apprenticeship programme well and has demonstrated a keen attitude to the learning process. The Process Manufacturing Apprenticeship requires learning both practical skills in the work environment and a wide range of theoretical technical knowledge - all of which the Chemical and Petrochemical Industry requires in developing the next generation of skilled employees.

“It has been evident in the process that Alex is a capable individual and willing to make the most of this experience. I anticipate that he will continue to develop his learning and add value to the organisation.”

The px Group has 13 years’ experience of managing high hazard facilities and operates 12 sites around the UK. These include gas processing, fossil fuel and renewable power generation plants and fuel storage depots. As a fully integrated energy infrastructure solutions business it currently employs 400 people, also providing energy trading and engineering consultancy services.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Paul Dobbie .