Celebrating North Devon...
Recognising the People Behind Apprenticeship Success in North Devon
Thursday 2nd July saw The Engineering Trust hold its second Annual Awards Results and Presentation Evening in North Devon, celebrating 2025.
We were pleased to invite nominees along with their work colleagues, family and friends to The Park Hotel, Barnstaple to celebrate apprenticeship excellence.
Well done to all our winners and to everyone who was nominated for an award. Alas, not every nominee can win, 2025's winners were...
The Recipients of Awards!
Our Winners Across The Categories
Each year, our awards shine a spotlight on the exceptional talent, development and dedication within the engineering apprenticeship community.
1. Apprentice of the Year
Recognising apprentices who have excelled throughout their training, demonstrating exceptional progress, commitment and technical skill.
Jamie Ryan at Condition Monitoring Technology Group (CMTG)
"Jamie has demonstrated exceptional commitment, professionalism and determination throughout his apprenticeship within the Aerospace Department."
"Since joining the business, he has developed an excellent understanding of testing processes across a wide range of products and has consistently exceeded expectations in every aspect of his role."
"His enthusiasm for learning and willingness to take on new challenges have enabled him to progress beyond routine testing into fault-finding and diagnostics, working alongside senior engineers to further develop his technical expertise."
"Jamie's strong work ethic is evident in everything he does. He consistently goes above and beyond to ensure customer deadlines are met, making full use of his working hours and regularly volunteering additional time to support both the team and wider business."
"What truly sets Jamie apart is his genuine passion for continuous improvement. His curiosity, thoughtful questions and willingness to expand his skills have accelerated both his technical ability and personal development."
"Over the past two years, Jamie has grown into a confident, dependable and highly valued member of the Aerospace team. His journey is a fantastic example of what an apprenticeship can achieve."
Judged and Presented by: Robert Zarywacz - Business Action
2. Career Progression Award
Recognising and celebrating a current or former apprentice who has made significant progress in their career to date.
Josh Parr at Condition Monitoring Technology Group (CMTG)
"Josh has demonstrated exceptional growth throughout his apprenticeship, developing into a trusted and highly capable member of the production team."
"During this time, he has become the organisation's go-to expert on the Beran Plant Condition Monitoring System, a specialist product now being deployed across power stations throughout Europe."
"His technical knowledge and confidence have enabled him to take ownership of the product from assembly and programming through to final testing, consistently delivering work to a high standard."
"Josh has shown remarkable independence and professionalism, managing his own workload with minimal supervision while working directly with project managers and hardware and software engineers on bespoke customer solutions."
"Alongside his day-to-day responsibilities, Josh has played an important role in developing others by training a new permanent member of the production team. "
"As part of his college studies, he also designed and developed a new piece of test hardware for the PCMS range, an innovation that will improve efficiency and save valuable time once implemented into daily operations."
"His technical ability, initiative and commitment to continuous improvement have positioned him for the next stage of his career as he transitions into the Customer Support team."
Judged and Presented by: Clare Wilcox - The Engineering Trust Trustees
3. Above and Beyond Award
Recognising an apprentice mentor or manager who has consistently gone above and beyond for apprentices.
Billy Spratt at Systems Engineering and Assessment Ltd (SEA)
"Billy has been an integral part of SEA's apprenticeship programme throughout his career, supporting and mentoring production apprentices from the very beginning of their journey."
"As both a line manager and mentor, he has consistently encouraged apprentices to build confidence, remain curious and never be afraid to ask questions."
"His passion for developing people extends far beyond technical training, ensuring every apprentice feels valued and supported regardless of the career path they choose."
"One example that perfectly reflects Billy's character came in 2025 when a business apprentice spoke negatively about their own contribution, believing they were less important than the engineering apprentices."
"Billy immediately challenged this perception, reinforcing that every role within SEA is equally important to the success of the business. This embodied SEA's One SEA Team value and his commitment to creating an inclusive environment."
"Billy has also helped develop a comprehensive three-year training pathway giving production apprentices valuable experience across both mechanical and electrical engineering."
"His dedication to mentoring, programme development and the personal success of every apprentice has had a lasting impact on individuals and the organisation."
Presented by: Paula Golby - Cooper Golding Recruitment
4. Apprentice Employer of the Year
Recognising and celebrating an employer’s commitment, contribution and dedication to their apprenticeship programme.
Hobart Manufacturing UK
"Hobart has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to apprenticeships, building a programme that has developed skilled engineers while creating a sustainable pipeline of talent for the business."
"Over the past 14 years, the company has invested in apprentices across Fabrication, Mechanical Assembly and the Machine Shop, with the majority progressing into permanent roles."
"Every apprentice benefits from a structured development pathway, combining Level 3 BTEC and NVQ qualifications with opportunities to progress to HNCs, foundation degrees and degree apprenticeships."
"The business goes beyond standard training by providing additional support including private tutoring where required, specialist technical courses and dedicated mentoring to ensure every apprentice has the opportunity to succeed."
"A defining strength of Hobart's programme is its culture of progression. Former apprentices have advanced into key positions across Manufacturing Engineering, Design Engineering, Production Management and Plant Leadership."
"The impact of the programme extends far beyond individual success. By investing in internal talent, Hobart has developed a highly skilled and flexible workforce capable of supporting production, innovation and long-term growth."
"With dedicated mentors, clear career pathways and a genuine commitment to developing people, Hobart has created an apprenticeship programme built on long-term investment."
Presented by: Martin Slocombe - 361 Energy
Congratulations
Celebrating Apprenticeship Excellence Across North Devon
Our Annual Awards recognise the apprentices, former apprentices, mentors and employers whose commitment helps make apprenticeship programmes successful.
Congratulations to Jamie Ryan, Josh Parr, Billy Spratt and Hobart Manufacturing UK, as well as every nominee recognised during the evening.