Helicopter worker wins SW apprentice prize

Bramwell, from Bridport, who works for helicopter manufacturer AgustaWestland at Yeovil, received the accolade at the EEF South West Apprentice of the Year Awards, which acknowledge the achievements of apprentices working for engineering and manufacturing companies across the region. “Bramwell thoroughly deserved his award, having demonstrated excellent technical knowledge and skills and a maturity beyond his years,” said Terry Slater, South West Region Director for EEF, the manufacturers’ organisation. Bramwell has just completed the final year of his apprenticeship and is working in the AgustaWestland AW149 military helicopter design team. Talking about how he has thoroughly enjoyed the training programme, the 22 year-old said: “It’s been brilliant - I’ve learned a lot and it’s set me up for a good career. I applied to university and to the apprenticeship programme at the same time but in the end I decided I just wanted to get on with working and it’s been really worthwhile.” At the ceremony, in Weston-super-Mare, Bramwell shared the limelight with five other major award winners. James Phelan (22), from Bournemouth, who works for Thomson Valves (Poole) and is trained by the Marine Skills Centre (Poole) won the IMECHE-sponsored Most Promising Mechanical Engineer Award, while Lewis Reed (24), from Plymouth, employed by Babcock Marine (Plymouth) and trained by City College (Plymouth), won the Whitworth Prize. Top in their year groups were initial year apprentice 17-year-old Charlotte Ryall (employed by Hamworthy Combustion (Poole) and trained by Bournemouth and Poole College); Year Two 26-year-old Barry apprentice Vukile Dumani (employed by Airbus UK, Bristol, and trained by City of Bristol College); and Year Three 23-year-old Bristol apprentice Wayne Manton (employed by Rolls-Royce, Bristol, and trained by Filton College.