| Apprentice Wins Top Award |
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A Kelso engineering apprentice has won a prestigious national craft award. Edward Beck (18), who is a mechanical
engineering apprentice with DMI Mechanical Engineers of Kelso and trained at Border Engineering Training Association was presented with his award and a cheque for £500 by Sandy Shaw, National & Overseas Verification Manager, EMTA Awards Limited at the ceremony held in Scottish Engineering’s headquarters in Glasgow today (Friday 19 September). He was also named as the Most Promising Young Mechanical Engineer and received a cheque for a further £200 by Sandra Mulligan, IMechE’s Regional Manager for Scotland. Two Aberdeen engineering apprentices have brought credit to their companies by gaining distinction in the competition. Ross Tindall (18) and Steven Burnett (17) were placed respectively second and third in the National Apprentice Competition 2008 and won £300 and £200 as well as being presented their awards by Hazel Mathieson, Regional Director of Skills Interventions for East of Scotland, Skills Development Scotland (SDS) at the presentation ceremony held in Scottish Engineering’s headquarters in Glasgow. Ross, of Portlethan, is a first year apprentice with Subsea 7 in Aberdeen and has completed his first year training with Banff & Buchan College. He is training to be a mechanical engineer. Steven from Westhill works with Micron Eagle Hydraulics also in Aberdeen and is poised for a career as a hydraulics engineer. In her keynote speech Hazel Mathieson explained that SDS had only been in existence since April of this year. She praised the contribution that engineering makes to the Scottish economy and pointed out that because of the ageing workforce in engineering there was a need to improve the skills of the present workforce and accelerate the modern apprenticeship scheme. She added that at the present moment there are more than 8000 engineering apprentices in training. Introducing the event, Dr Peter Hughes, Chief Executive of Scottish Engineering, the support group for the industry in Scotland said: “I am delighted to see these young apprentices taking the first steps on their career ladder. A large number of high quality apprentices is vital to the future of our industry.” The nationwide contest which attracted hundreds of applicants, is sponsored by EMTA Awards Limited (EAL), Scottish Engineering and ImechE (Institution of Mechanical Engineers. For further information contact Colin McGill on 0141 221 3181 or 07976 224412 or visit the Scottish Engineering website at www.ScottishEngineering.org.uk |