Apprentice bags health and safety award

Nineteen-year-old Ben Gordon was nominated for the award for demonstrating enthusiasm, commitment and for improving health and safety in the BAE Systems apprentice training centre through his position on the BAE Systems apprentice council. BAE Systems said: "Ben has been proactive and instrumental in seeking improvements to equipment in the apprentice training centre and thus improving the safety of the apprentices. His suggested improvements to grinding masks were so successful that the new masks have been rolled out across the business in Portsmouth benefitting many employees." The award forms part of the British Safety Council International Safety Awards. The Young Health and Safety Champion award recognises a young employee's proven commitment to workplace health and safety. Ben was one of six young people shortlisted for the category and went head to head with fellow BAE Systems apprentice Hannah Dyer and apprentices from four other companies. Gordon, who was presented with his award at the International Safety Awards at The Grosvenor Hotel in Mayfair, said "I'm really pleased, it's nice that people have deemed me worthy of this award. All the people I've told have been pleased and recognise that safety is important which can only be a good thing".