Member Article

In-Comm Awards recognise 'best' apprentices

The West Midlands’ brightest apprentices have been recognised at one of the vocational learning sector’s largest awards evenings.

James Harper, who works at Aktrion Automotive in Wolverhampton, beat off the challenge of 100s of his peers to be named as the In-Comm Training ‘Outstanding Apprentice of the Year’.

The budding engineer impressed judges with his commitment to lean manufacturing and his ability to save his employer money and improve efficiencies in the process.

Voestalpine Metsec PLC’s Steve Giles (Ambassador of the Year) and bosses from Cannock-based RLS Tooling joined him on stage, with the latter claiming the ‘Employer’ title in recognition of its commitment to investing in young people.

Held at the Grand Station in Wolverhampton, the In-Comm Training and Business Services Awards are now in their 5th year and attracted over 250 people to celebrate the importance of apprenticeships in helping ease the region’s skills gap.

“We feel it is really important to celebrate the vocational learning route and recognise the achievements of young people who are gaining important skills whilst having a real tangible benefit to the companies they work for,” explained Rebecca Phillips, joint Managing Director of In-Comm Training and Business Services.

“This awards scheme is the only one in the Midlands that celebrates apprentices working across business administration, professional services and engineering and manufacturing.”

She continued: “We have had our best ever year for entries and that is reflected in the calibre of winners, who, as well as working towards their qualifications, have gone that extra mile to support others, do things differently and consistently meet performance targets.

“It’s not just about celebrating our young people, that is just one element of the competition. There is also a desire to put the spotlight on the employers who invest thousands every year because they believe in growing their ‘own’ and the mentors/parents who provide the support network individuals need to succeed.”

The In-Comm Training Awards – for the first time in five years – has enjoyed a major sponsor in the form of RBS, who put forward Commercial Director Dave Robinson to sit on a judging panel including Rachel Eade (Manufacturing Hub) and Gareth Jones (In-Comm).

Together they whittled down 250 entries and came up with a list of winners on the evening, including:

• Jack Smith (Sprint Tool & Die Ltd): Most Improved Learner of the Year and Apprentice of the Year In-Comm Academy Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies Intermediate
• Craig Hall (Craig & Derricott Ltd): Apprentice of the Year Supervisory Management
• James Harper & Reece Davies (both Aktrion Automotive): Apprentice of the Year Business Improvement Techniques
• Faye Matts (George Taylor & Company): Apprentice of the Year – Business Support Intermediate
• Bethany Griffiths (William Mitchell): Apprentice of the Year – Business Support Advanced
• Joshua Bradley (B Mason & Sons): Apprentice of the Year – Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Advanced
• Dean Maritza & Joel Brown (RMD Kwikform): Apprentice of the Year – In-Comm Academy Engineering & Manufacturing Technologies Advanced

Bekki concluded: “B Mason & Sons, Bradken, Charter Automotive, Darlaston Rotary Club, George Taylor & Company, Made in the Midlands, Pro-Mil Engineering, Rical Group and Stechford Mouldings all contributed their time and some form of financial support to ensure the Awards Evening was such a huge success.”

About In-Comm

In-Comm has been offering industry and commerce a wide range of training and business solutions for 34 years.

The firm has a proven track record of developing apprentices, with a record 426 learners either completing or undertaking their learning with the Black Country training provider this year.

Another ‘first’ in the last twelve months was the successful launch of the In-Comm Training Academy in Shrewsbury. The £400,000 investment is a joint venture with Salop Design and Engineering and will provide manufacturing firms in Shropshire with specialist provision for up to 60 young people.

Going forward, the company is expecting an equally exciting twelve months, with the focus falling on doubling the size of the welding facility to cope with increasing demand from clients, including Gestamp.

There will also be the introduction of a dedicated electrical section at Aldridge and the launch of a new employer/learner E-platform to enhance efficiency and transparency.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Russ Cockburn .