AMRC Training Centre apprentice jetting off to Brazil after Apprentice of the Year win

A 17 year old manufacturing apprentice from Sheffield-based industrial fastening manufacturers, Cooper & Turner, has won the amazing prize of a once in a lifetime trip to Brazil in South America.

Sam Brookfield, from Sheffield, won the trip for being awarded the prestigious title of ‘Apprentice of the Year at the second-annual apprentice awards ceremony, held by the AMRC Training Centre on Thursday 24 March at the University of Sheffield.

Automation and control specialists WEG, who jointly sponsored the Award with Boeing, have invited Sam to their Brazilian headquarters in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina where he will tour WEGs manufacturing facilities, meet and work with their local apprentices and see the sites such as Camboriu beach resort and the spectacular Brazilian capital Rio, all courtesy of WEG.

Sam won overall Apprentice of the Year after picking up the title of ‘Academic Achiever of the Year, an award sponsored by Barnsley College for his “enthusiasm, commitment to his apprenticeship and the impact he made on the judging panel.”

Sam said he was ‘buzzing about winning the trip to Brazil: “Im extremely shocked, I really didnt expect to win. Im really excited to see new ways of engineering and also see some sun!

“I am very grateful to my parents for giving me something to look up to and everyone who has supported me throughout my short time as an apprentice.”

Nominated by their employers and trainers for showing outstanding achievement, the apprentices were invited to present to a panel of judges made up of apprentice trainers and award sponsors.

The judging panel decided immediately that Sam was a young person with the ability to inspire: “There was a noticeable silence amongst the panel when he left the room. To achieve what he has achieved required an amazing effort from someone with a great personality and infectious enthusiasm.”

Click here to view all the award categories, sponsors and winners. 

The 11 awards handed out included a new ‘First Year Apprentice of the Year award, to recognise new apprentices who have produced outstanding work, overcome barriers or have been a great ambassador for the AMRC Training Centre.

The honour was awarded to Electrical Engineering Maintenance Engineer, Thomas Hesling to acknowledge the excellent transition he has made using the training delivered within the Training Centre to his workplace Leggett & Platt Components based in Barnsley.

Other winners on the night were: P.Clay Fabrications Welding and Fabricator Apprentice, Kieran Ferry, Gripple Multiskill Maintenance Apprentice, Jake Cawthorne, Atkins Apprentice Draughtsman, Joe Martin, AMRC with Boeing Machinist, Bethany Cousins, Cooper & Turner Office Administrator, Amy Flannery and AMRC Training Centre Trainer, David Wood received a ‘Mentor of the Year award as an overwhelming number of apprentices felt as a new trainer, David had already made an incredibly positive impact during his short time training at the Training Centre. 

Special Recognition Awards were also awarded to Rolls-Royce Apprentice Manufacturing Engineer, Jack Smith, AESSEAL CNC Lathe Operative, Nathan Wall and AESSEAL CNC Machinist and 6S Co-ordinator Rob Hobson for their individual contributions to the Training Centre and employers; such as becoming STEM ambassadors, supporting extra-curricular activities; for progress made or professionalism displayed whilst on site at their jobs and at the Training Centre.

AMRC Training Centre heads of operations, Kerry Featherstone, told apprentices and guests: “The awards ceremony is about recognising our apprentices and their incredible achievements. Sitting on the judging panel I saw some incredible examples from the workplace and how all the nominees had grown as individuals.”

“With the landscape of apprenticeships rapidly changing, the introduction of our new degree and masters level apprenticeships and our the Training Centre due to grow to its largest number of apprentices yet in 2016; it is vitally important we continue to celebrate the efforts of our amazing apprentices to show what young people can achieve.”