A pair of Cleveland Bridge UK apprentices have achieved recognition from Britain’s leading manufacturing industry body, Make UK.
Daniel Boyes, 21 from Marske-by-the-Sea and Leo Gibson, 19 from Hartlepool, were finalists in two categories at the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside Make UK Manufacturing Awards, which were held online.
An apprentice Maintenance Technician, Daniel was a finalist in the Engineering Apprentice: Final Year category, which recognises the achievements of nominees throughout their training and the contribution they have made to their employer.
This is the second accolade in the past year for Daniel, having won Cleveland Bridge UK’s Ron Maddison Award at the end of 2019. A highly dedicated individual, Daniel achieved his HNC qualification in less than a year alongside his shifts on the shop floor and aims to achieve an HND as he approaches the end of his three-year apprenticeship.
Leo, who is working towards a fabricator apprenticeship, was highly commended in the Engineering Apprentice of the Year: Rising Star category, which celebrates young people that seize the opportunities during the early part of their apprenticeship and show great potential for the remainder of their training.
Having been runner-up for the 2019 Ron Maddison Award, Leo has been involved in a range of high-profile bridge projects including the Thames Bray Barrier Bridge, multiple structures for the M4 upgrade and a bridge for the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.
Daniel said: “I am really happy to have been a finalist in these national awards. I love my apprenticeship with Cleveland Bridge, which I hope will be a springboard to a full-time and long-term career with the company. I am totally committed to my apprenticeship and, with the support I get from my colleagues and the Cleveland Bridge UK apprenticeship team, I am really proud to be training with this company.”
Leo said: “I have really enjoyed the first year of my apprenticeship and to be a finalist in the Rising Star category is brilliant. I am really enjoying the experience of training at Cleveland Bridge UK and this award is as much for the company as it is for me, because of the help and support I am receiving during my training.”
Chris Droogan, Managing Director of Cleveland Bridge UK, said: “Daniel and Leo are both great ambassadors for our apprenticeship scheme and the company, demonstrating the dedication to learn new skills and build a long-term career in our industry.
“Recognition from industry bodies such as Make UK is a great endorsement of our apprentices and our comprehensive and support training programmes. Apprenticeships are at the heart of our people development strategy as we continue to develop a highly skilled and talented workforce.”