TWO Scotstoun apprentices have been recognised for their skills as they learn the shipbuilding trade.

Jack Lamont and Jordan Whiteford won craft apprentice awards celebrating the talent and potential of BAE Systems’ workers.

Both are employed at the Scotstoun yard and were presented with prizes at the BAE Systems UK Apprenticeship Awards at a recent ceremony in Leeds.

Jack won the craft electrical award after judges praised his “unrelenting passion” and was appointed as charge hand at only 20 years old. He achieved 97 per cent in his HNC, the second highest score in college.

He said: “My apprenticeship was great. There was a good range of experience; working on different vessels in different departments and learning different skills. 

“I would advise anyone starting out on their apprenticeship to ask questions, always try and learn something, and be interested. If you’re keen and you show you’re interested, folk will always advise you. When you’re keen you will go far.”

Jordan Whiteford, 22, won the craft mechanical award.

The judges said: “Jordan demonstrated a real commitment to his apprenticeship and dedication to his business, including self-funding additional qualifications that he has studied on top of those included in his apprenticeship.”

The BAE Systems UK Apprenticeship Awards were presented recently at a ceremony in Leeds.

Presenting the awards, Steve Fogg, managing director of Shared Services, said: “Our awards celebrate individual achievement; inspiring stories of community and charitable endeavour and the remarkable contribution our apprentices make to our success.

“We’re very proud of the investment we make in apprentices and early careers but it is the efforts, achievements and successes made by individuals that make that investment worthwhile for our business.

“Congratulations go to all our winners. It’s fitting that in this, the government’s ‘year of engineering’, we are able to celebrate so many great stories of engineering and engineering support. I look forward to seeing how all our nominees progress in their careers.”

A team of BAE Systems apprentices from their naval ships division also celebrated completion of their participation in the company’s “Apprentice Innovation Challenge” after developing a device which aims to improve the quality of life of injured military personnel and other hospital patients. 

The biennial competition saw eleven teams of apprentices from across the business use their engineering and project management skills to design and develop products in response to a brief set by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham Charity. The teams were given nine months to plan, design, create and test their end products, which they presented to a panel of judges in January. 

BAE is currently recruiting 40 apprentices to join in September 2018 in craft, engineering technician, and project control areas.