The awards are supported by Boeing and now Siddall - who works as a production and perforation department manager for C&S Fabrications in Sheffield - will tour Boeing’s commercial aircraft factory facilities in Washington State, outside Seattle in the United States.
The Apprentice of the Year award uses nominations from employers and trainers who want to recognise the achievement, innovation, fresh thinking or contribution to industry exhibited by apprentices, and are judged by a panel of AMRC Training Centre staff and award sponsors.
This year the judges were struck by what a positive effect Siddall has made within his workplace.
Speaking at the awards, Siddall said: “I am totally shocked and surprised to have won Apprentice of the Year! I was grateful just to be nominated and have people put me forward for the award who thought I was deserving of the honour.”
He said one of the main highlights of his year was utilising the skills he has learnt at the AMRC Training Centre to support improvements in house at C&S Fabrications, such as applying the use of 3D CAD learnt as part of his technical support course.
Professor Sir Keith Burnett, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Sheffield, added: “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to tonight’s winner Ben on his success.
“I am extremely proud of the ability of the AMRC Training Centre and of the work it does training future generations of much needed engineers, so it is only right to mark the achievements of our talented apprentices and of those who train and mentor them.”
Other winners at the AMRC Apprentice of the Year Awards were:
Machining Apprentice of the Year, David Carroll of Doncasters Bramah
Sponsored by Sandvik Coromant
Technical Support Apprentice of the Year, Ben Siddall of C&S Fabrications
Sponsored by The Source Academy
Fabrication and Welding Apprentice of the Year, Kyle Heighington of Wilson Brothers Ltd
Sponsored by Sheffield International Venues
Maintenance Apprentice of the Year, Joshua Brookes of Thos C Wild Ltd
Sponsored by Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence
Academic Achiever of the Year, Benedict Bloomer of Arconic Forgings and Extrusions
Sponsored by Barnsley College
Higher Achiever of the Year, Oliver Heafield of Rolls-Royce
Sponsored by The University of Sheffield
First Year Apprentice of the Year, Will Morton of Tribsonics Ltd
Sponsored by the AMRC
AMRCTraining Centre Mentor of the Year, Chloé Fairman
Sponsored by Apprentice Employment Agency
