During National Apprenticeship Week, ERIKS UK held its inaugural apprentice awards ceremony on Tuesday 10th March, to acknowledge the dedication and contribution of its Year 4 apprentices, who are due to complete their studies in 2015.

The 2015 ERIKS UK Apprenticeship Awards was held at Loughborough College, ERIKS’ partner in the delivery of apprenticeships to their Electro-Mechanical Division.

ERIKS Board of Directors judged and honoured accolades to apprentices across six award categories. These included the Contribution to ERIKS Award; Managers’ Award; Loughborough College Award; Most Improved Student; Highest Grade Achieved and ERIKS Apprentice of the Year. The awarded apprentices were presented with a commendable certificate, trophy and prize.

ERIKS UK’s Apprenticeship Programme is a four year scheme supported by the Institute of Engineering and Technology, leading to professional engineering body accreditation and achievement of a minimum of NVQ Level 3 and a BTEC Diploma in engineering. 

Denny Wood, human resources director at ERIKS UK, said: “Our apprentices are the future of our business, that’s why we take such care in the training and development approach, culminating in a brighter future for our organisation, as well as a great career for all of the participants.”

Among the winners commended on the day was David Ralph of ERIKS’ Swansea Electro-Mechanical Service Centre who won the ‘ERIKS UK Apprentice of the Year Award’.

Denny concluded: “It is great to be able to formally acknowledge the contribution our apprentices make to our company. Big congratulations to all those who have made it through this far and completed their apprenticeship training.”

ERIKS UK received sponsorship from suppliers including WEG, Brook Crompton and Rapid Education, each supporting an award category.

During the structured training programme, apprentices each held a full time position within the Electro Mechanical Services Division, working as part of a team in the workshop developing skills for rewinding, repairing electro-mechanical equipment such as motors, gearboxes and pumps as well as gaining an understanding and exposure to condition monitoring.  Each apprentice combined theory and practical activity assessed by both ERIKS UK and Loughborough College over the four year duration of the apprenticeship programme