Daniel Quinn

Employer: Oxford Lasers

Daniel is diligent, willing to learn and always ready to help. He knows his strengths and proactively works to leverage them while filling the gaps in his experience. He has extremely good social skills which make him an exceptional team member and potentially a future leader. Within the Contract Micromachining Laboratory, a high-pressure, deadline-driven environment where quality cannot be compromised, Daniel consistently delivers while expanding his skill set. He began with part handling and cleaning using ultrasonic baths, before moving on to inspection with an optical microscope. Daniel ultimately progressed to being entrusted with the operation of a laser micromachining system for specific jobs. Daniel machined & delivered production parts to a quality expected of all engineers within the Team. Additionally, he created a Work Instruction for the calibration of a measurement device which was approved and entered the Laboratory Management System.

Jonathan Carswell

Employer: Johnson Matthey 

Jonathan is a fully integrated member of our team with responsibilities equivalent to others, which he has earnt through the quality of his work. Over the past year or so he has become part of a team who visit nationally funded science facilities to conduct synchrotron experiments. These are important in supporting our business in their scientific discussions with customers. Jonathan has earned the trust of experts in conducting these complex experiments using high powered X-rays for spectroscopy experiments, and in so doing is also gaining a new aspect to his development – that of chemistry, catalysis and characterisation methodologies, as well as all the extra EHS considerations when conducting this work. Jonathan is a calm presence in a laboratory and has shown focus when he has had to repair equipment for business critical projects. He has devoted time to ensuring this is done successfully and in good time as well as in a polite and calm manner.

FREDDIE WILSON-LYONS

Employer: OGM

Freddie has shown he is a very capable Engineer and since finishing his apprenticeship he has progressed from Junior Automation Engineer to Senior Automation Engineer to Technical Manager. Freddie’s professionalism in the workplace has helped his speed of progression to the current role. He has always worked hard to achieve in his role and wider life and having recently become a father, he will continue to work hard to provide for his son and become a good role model. Freddie continues to progress and is working towards becoming the Engineering Manager for the site, taking over from his mentor when he retires. OGM have a long history of developing young people into key roles and the apprenticeship program is a key element in their succession planning. Freddie has been the driving force behind OGM’s ongoing apprentice programme and has been successful in passing on his knowledge of robots and automated systems, encouraging the next generation to learn.

ADE ELSLEY

Award collected by Phil Ashworth following Ade passing away in 2022 after almost 36 years of loyal service at MRC Harwell.  Ade is remembered for his human touch and the support for his team and colleagues, someone with a heart of gold that would always try to make things work for you. Ade was always looking to the future of the site and was instrumental in setting up the apprenticeship scheme for the whole of the MRC establishment, welcoming the first Apprentice in 2009, leading to many successful apprentices since. Ade always hailed this as one of the achievements he was most proud of due to the positive reach and effect for both the Apprentices and MRC as a whole. Ade remained a staunch and committed supporter of Apprenticeships believing they were the foundation for the future and was so proud of all of those who trained at Harwell and extremely generous with his time to hand down his remarkable skills and knowledge. 

NICAB LTD

Over the years we have enabled apprentices to learn in a nurturing, values driven environment where they have gained valuable work and life skills. For many this is their first entry point into the job market, and we actively encourage apprentices to stay on with us with the ultimate goal of having well trained, talented members of our team. It takes a very long time to truly learn the skills of our trade and we take the vital steps in ensuring the next generation of skilled people are in the job market. Even if that means we have enabled them to move on to another company they are still contributing to the skills economy. The apprenticeship works hand in hand with our internal training and we use a buddy system to place them alongside experienced team members where their progress is constantly monitored.