Plymouth DE&S engineering apprentices win top awards
Future engineers from Plymouth employed by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), have scooped top awards at a ceremony attended by HRH The Prince of Wales.
Above:
HRH The Prince of Wales meeting the apprentices at the Apprentice Awards Ceremony 2017.
Ministry of Defence (MoD) engineering apprentices based at Devonport Naval Base were presented with their awards at a special ceremony in London by His Royal Highness, Prince of Wales, with a Devonport apprentice winning top awards, including the Gold Apprentice of the Year Award.
The apprentices, employed by Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), were attending the MoD Apprentice of the Year Award Ceremony in the MoD Main Building in London.
Despite having one of the smallest entries, Devonport apprentices not only brought home the gold accolade but had two nominees in the top 10.
They also won the Phase One Hand Skills competition with the Devonport team awarded the Defence Infrastructure Organisation top prize for the Sustainability Recycling Challenge for innovative thinking.
Devonport also had a finalist in the new Prince of Wales’s Award for Services to Defence Engineering.
Lorna Stubbs, the Devonport Apprentice Development Manager said: ”His Royal Highness took time to talk to the apprentices and their families, which meant a great deal to them and reinforced the national importance of what they are doing.
“Whilst there were clear individual winners, collectively, Devonport apprentices continue to impress with their enthusiasm and passion for engineering as well as embracing wider aspects of their apprenticeship.”
She said the Prince of Wales was extremely interested in the local project Devonport apprentices undertook when they revamped Mount Wise Primary School’s playground and in particular the engagement with local STEM activities.
Matt Schofield (above), Apprentice of the Year winner, visited schools to promote STEM subjects as part of his role.
He said: “It was incredible to win, as I was aware of the outstanding quality of work of all of those selected for the final 10.
“Engineering is an incredible career and I am just lucky to be doing something at DE&S that I enjoy so much.”
Phase One Hand Skills Award winner Sarah Hughes, also picked up a second award as part of the DE&S Devonport’s Sustainability Recycling Challenge, alongside Declan Heard, Lawrence Parker and Chris Nowell-Smith.
Sarah (above) said: “It was wonderful that my family and partner were able to come and support me – it’s been a very special day.
“I have spent a lot of time going into schools and exposing children to the opportunities available in engineering at DE&S.”