21.05.2014

CPA hosts Stars of the Future

The UK’s CPA presented the annual Stars of the Future apprenticeship awards last week at Vertikal Days.

Now in its second year the CPA received close to 600 entries from young mechanics currently enrolled in level 2 and level 3 apprentice schemes in colleges throughout the UK. At the award ceremony two national and 21 regional apprentices were selected with the winners receiving up to £1,000 worth of tool vouchers from Machine Mart.

Darragh Spencer of Askham Bryan College, employed by Randall Orchard Construction, won the national level 2 award, with Colt Davis of Bridgend College, employed by Dawnus, taking the national level 3 award.
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(l-r) Spencer Smirl, Colt Davis, Darragh Spencer and Richmond Dykes

The regional winners at level 2 were: Conor Reuss, Craig Harris, Darragh Spencer, George Bray, George Pyecroft, Jake Beeson, Lee Thompson, Martin Stewart, Rhys Lewis, Steven Reid and Thomas Hughes.

The level 3 regional winners were: Colt Davis, Christopher Smith, Dane Gendinning, James Prior, Karl Thorne, Luke Holmes, Matt Biggins, Nathun Wadiun, Ryan Hunter and Thomas Hammond.
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Dykes and Smirl (back centre) with the 20 winners of the Star of the Future awards (one winner was unable to attend)

Finning service engineers Spencer Smirl and Richmond Dykes, from the ‘Coldest Journey’ Antarctic expedition presented the awards. The two, who accompanied Sir Ranulph Fiennes on his 307 day expedition through the Antarctic, provided a presentation on their experiences, maintaining and operating the two Cat D6Ns across crevasse fields and blue ice, whilst faced with winds of up to 125kph and wind chills of minus 88 degrees.

CPA director Kevin Minton – who was the master of ceremonies on the day – said: “Last year we set a very high benchmark and we intend to make the scheme even bigger and better in the coming years. Apprentices are playing an important role in the recovery of our industry by giving employers the essential skills they need. I am very proud and privileged to be associated with the Star of the Future programme and to see the pride they bring not only to their employers, families, and college but most importantly to themselves. Congratulations to every apprentice as they are all Star of the Future.”