East Coast College celebrates the value of apprenticeships at their annual Apprenticeship Award Ceremony 2018.
On Wednesday 14th March 200 apprentices, employers, VIPs and staff assembled in Great Yarmouth for their annual Apprenticeship Award Ceremony. This year being the first as East Coast College following the merger of Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft Colleges last year.
Stuart Rimmer, CEO of East Coast College opened the proceeding and welcomed over 60 worthy winners of apprenticeship awards – “apprentices that have set themselves the highest of standards and in most cases exceeded them!”
Announced on the evening were the overall winners for two age categories and their runners up. And for the first time, a new award for Apprentice Employer of the Year which was awarded to Thurne-Middleby LTD of Norwich.
Guest speaker Simon Pointer of MSI Defence Systems spoke to the audience about his journey as an apprentice and an apprentice ambassador at his company. He now has 5 apprentices “earning and learning” at levels 2 (intermediate), 3 (advanced) and 4 (higher).
The winners announced on the evening were:
16-24 years Overall Apprentice of the Year’ – Dan Ulrich – Greg Rowe Limited.
Dan joined GREG ROWE LIMITED in September 2016 and has been working as part of a small design engineering team. He has been involved in core product development projects that include scoping, development and prototyping of a new version of kitchen tap appliance. The project involved Dan working with senior management and the founder of the business. Over the past 6 months Dan’s responsibilities have increased and he is now being tasked with managing projects. Dan has a natural aptitude for engineering and has exceeded all expectations. GREG ROWE LIMITED intend to sponsor Dan through a degree level design and engineering course.
24 years plus Overall Apprentice of the Year’ – Christina Stranks – Scribbles Day Nursery.
Chrissy joined the team in April 2016 and since then she has gone from strength to strength and excels in everything she undertakes. Although Chrissy is an apprentice and is still learning, she uses her own initiative and stepped up when she realised routines were not being implemented or adhered to. Chrissy also played a large part in the nursery being graded ‘Outstanding in all Areas’ in December 2017. She left school with no qualifications and no aspirations but she has excelled herself to make a better life for her and her children. She has faced a lot of adversity in her life and when a lot of people would have followed the easy route she took it all in her stride and focuses on her future and children.
East Coast College continues to be the top ranking apprenticeship provider locally, offering the highest number of apprenticeships in the area. The College works with approximately 500 employers and has over 700 apprentices – and growing. ECC focuses on supporting its main local sectors in offshore energy, engineering, construction, tourism, business administration, hospitality and catering, amongst others. They are developing their offer at Higher levels of study and are about to launch their first Degree Apprenticeship with the University of Suffolk this September.