Winning Haul at Skills Awards
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- Created on Thursday, 26 April 2012 08:34
College Scoops Winning Haul at Skills Awards
SOUTH DEVON COLLEGE are celebrating another haul of awards from the second annual South Devon Skills Awards 2012, organised at Torquay’s Riviera International Conference Centre by Torbay Development Agency and Productive Skills for Devon.
South Devon College apprentices, staff and partners accrued five winner awards and six highly commended, easily beating last year’s inaugural pickings of two winner’s awards and two highly commended titles.
South Devon College student Lloyd Lee, 15, won the “Young Apprentice of the Year” award, has been working with MB Motorsports in Loddiswell between his studies at South Devon College and Kingsbridge Community College.
Lloyd said after receiving his certificate: “I think the Young Apprentice programme is a really good opportunity for young people to get up to an employment level before leaving school and is a privileged opportunity and a great start to working life.”
Another South Devon College apprentice mechanic, Nathan Ellis, 18 from Ivybridge – who works at Phil Davies (South West) Ltd in Plymouth - won the Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award, and deservedly so according to his training officer at the College:
“Nathan’s hard work and his obvious passion for the trade has had an impression on established members of his garage and some have now taken courses to upskill,” said Terry Butcher of South Devon College, “There has been an increase in productivity and everyone is now more inquisitive about their work.”
South Devon College sponsored the Micro Business Employer of the Year Award, won by Omega Electrical Services in Teignmouth, who employ a number of South Devon College apprentices. The SME Business Employer of the Year Award went to a further company with South Devon College apprentices on their rota, David Youll Hair and Beauty of Paignton to the delight of South Devon College training officer Lucy Wallace:
“David’s approach towards the use of technology and skills development is a true example of excellent links with the college,” said Lucy, “David employs three apprentices and works with the college supporting full time students.”
Centrax in Newton Abbot, another champion of young South Devon College apprentices, scooped the Large Business Employer of the Year Award with Newton Abbot based Gregory Distribution, a partner of the college, awarded a highly commended title. Other Highly Commended Awards with South Devon College links include Teign Housing, Bovey Construction, Tebb’s All Plumbing Services, College hairdressing lecturer Stuart McKendrick in the ‘Employee who most inspires others to learn’ category and College student Amy Forte in the Learning Against All Odds category. Amy is an adult returning to education to attend evening classes at GCSE, A level and university level. She is also deaf and has completed her programme of study without any additional support.
Said Amy: “I would like to encourage everyone, regardless of age, race, disability or sexual orientation, and say that we can achieve what we really want if we put our heart and souls into it.”
The awards are the result of collaboration between Torbay Development Agency, Productive Skills for Devon and a team of South Devon College tourism and hospitality foundation degree students. Guests were also entertained with live music from college music students.
Gareth Brocklehurst, chairman of Torbay and South Devon Employment and Skills Board and TDA board member, performed the opening ceremony at the Riviera International Conference Centre. A total of 12 awards were presented in recognition of a variety of accomplishments and contributions to skills and workforce development.
