STEGTA Excellence Award 2019 – CURTINS – Apprenticeship Support

We asked Curtins how they felt about winning the award.

“Curtins are so proud to have been awarded this accolade out of the 180 excellent employers in the Engineering industry. It’s testament to the values and vision of our founder, Bill Curtin. He was dedicated to investing in grassroots talent and providing development opportunities for everyone, which is now at the heart of who we are today. We’re therefore delighted to have received the STEGTA Excellence Award for Apprenticeship Support in recognition of this commitment”.

STEGTA commented “A HUGE congratulations to Curtins who have been awarded the 2019 STEGTA Excellence Award for Apprenticeship Support. STEGTA CEO John Whitby presented the award to Rob Melling – Curtins Chief Executive, alongside Pam Jackson, HR Team and Rebecca King, Learning and Development Manager.

STEGTA have supported Curtins with their Level 3 Civil Engineering Technician Apprentices since 2014 in 7 different office locations across England. During this time, Curtins have consistently demonstrated a firm commitment to the development of young people within the sector.

Curtins go above and beyond to support their Apprentices and through a collaborative approach with STEGTA, ensure each Apprentice is able to fulfil their potential.

It gives STEGTA great pleasure to announce Curtins as the recipient of the 2019 Excellence Award for Apprenticeship Support”.

STEGTA Excellence Award 2019 – Emily-Rose Maule

We would like to Congratulate Emily-Rose Maule who is employed by TSP Projects in York, as she has been awarded a STEGTA Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance in Railway Engineering Design.

We asked Emily-Rose how she felt about winning the award.

“Working in the engineering industry is highly interesting yet very challenging.

However, winning an Excellence Award from STEGTA has proven to me that it can also be extremely rewarding.

During my Level 3 Apprenticeship, TSP and STEGTA provided constant guidance to ensure I was continually progressing and developing my personal skills.

I was always encouraged by them both and have been given many great opportunities to develop my engineering knowledge.

The education that STEGTA provided has also allowed me to progress onto a higher education course (Level 5) whilst permanently gaining experience in the design office from TSP.

Thanks to both STEGTA and TSP, I am now more confident both as an individual and as a technician working alongside experienced engineers to complete technical project work”.

Emily-Rose’s Training OfficerHugh Mclay commented:

“Emily has been a pleasure to work with throughout her Apprenticeship.

She is hardworking, organised and has a natural creative and original flair. Emily is not afraid to ask questions about something that she doesn’t understand and always completes her work in a timely manner.

Emily has represented her employer at various schools in York to promote Apprenticeships in the Rail industry and is continuing her own studies with a HNC/HND Higher Level Apprenticeship and Level 5 NVQ in Building Services Engineering with Leeds College of Building.

I’m sure Emily has a bright future ahead of her and I wish her every success”.

STEGTA Excellence Award 19 – GABRIELLA LONG

We would like to Congratulate Gabriella Long who is employed by WSP in Manchester, as she has been awarded a STEGTA Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance in Engineering Design & Draughtsperson.

We asked Gabriella how she felt about winning the award.

“I chose a career in engineering because I have always been inquisitive about the work of my parents as engineers and a career in engineering offered a practical approach to learning. I wanted to gain first-hand experience, with the bonus of doing something different to my peers.

I am supported by an excellent team of colleagues at WSP who have been incredibly helpful, giving up their time to teach me about designing and our role within Energy and have explained the technical side to engineering in a way that I am able to understand it and then apply that knowledge to my work.

Rick and Ayo, my STEGTA Training Officers have also been extremely supportive. When I started my Apprenticeship Rick was very friendly and helpful and took the time to explain what I needed to do and what was expected of me. When Ayo took over he arranged a meeting to introduce himself and go through what I had completed with Rick, he’s been very encouraging and willing to work to push me so I could meet the goals I had set myself.

I am proud of my work on HS2 where I was given the opportunity to broaden my engineering knowledge by working on a multi-disciplinary project. I am also proud that this project gave me the chance to pass on the skills I have learnt in my Apprenticeship to other colleagues who were new to the project.

I plan to complete my Apprenticeship by the end of this year and complete an AS level in maths to help me when I progress on to a Degree Apprenticeship with WSP. This will get me a bachelor’s degree in Civil and Structural Engineering and then I will progress onto a Masters.

One of the great things about doing an Apprenticeship with WSP is that I will be given the opportunity to do this degree and have the strain of financial burden removed”.

Gabriella’s Training OfficerAyo Ojo commented:

“It has been an honour to work with Gabriella; the qualities she possess are glaring and very instrumental to her success on the programme so far. She forges good relationships effortlessly, challenges herself, speaks up in a timely manner whenever she is struggling, not afraid to troubleshoot, and most importantly; always looking for ways to improve her productivity. With these attributes, I know her future is going to be bright; and here is wishing Gabriella good health and a sound mind for greater things to come.”

STEGTA Excellence Award 2019 – Amelia Flood

We would like to Congratulate Amelia Flood who is employed by ARUP in Manchester, as she has been awarded a STEGTA Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance in Railway Engineering Design.

We asked Amelia how she felt about winning the award.

“I chose a career in engineering as I have always been intrigued in how things work mechanically and how the parts fit together to make a working component.

I liked the idea of innovation and constant evolution of the engineering industry and how it interfaces with everyday life for everybody.

The support I have received from STEGTA and people at work has been instrumental in my achievements so far.

Hugh has always ensured I’ve had the required progression at work to complete my NVQ and stick to a training plan and my manager at Arup has always been willing to cooperate and give me any support I have needed.

Over the past 2 years I have been working on Transpennine Route Upgrade, having learnt most of my knowledge on this project it is the one I am most proud to be part of and look forward to seeing it through to the end.

Since completing my Apprenticeship I have started studying at Sheffield Hallam University for BEng in Railway Engineering. As well as this I am now working towards my IEng status with the IET, hoping to then progress onto CEng”.

Amelia’s Training Officer – Hugh Mclay commented “Since Amelia started her Apprenticeship, she has worked extremely hard and has demonstrated a desire to learn along with perseverance and discipline. She is an excellent communicator with the ability to work independently and has completed her Apprenticeship within 2 years!

Amelia has represented her employer at various ‘Apprentice of the Year’ competitions and is thoroughly deserving of her STEGTA Excellence Award.

I wish her every success in her future studies and career”.

STEGTA Excellence Award 2019 – Mark Poncia

We would like to Congratulate Mark Poncia who is employed by Morson Group, as he has been awarded a STEGTA Excellence Award for Apprenticeship Mentoring.
We asked Mark how he felt about winning the award.

“I was delighted to hear that I had been awarded a STEGTA Excellence Award for Apprenticeship Mentoring! After learning the criteria, it was an honour to receive the award, reaffirming the strong relationship Morson have with STEGTA and the Apprentices

I have worked with Helen Wilson from STEGTA since the start of the Apprentices’ journey. Any questions, guidance and support regarding the learners work with STEGTA has been explained along the way.

I feel the role of Mentor has been a fundamental part of the Apprenticeship. I have been able to support and guide the Apprentices from the employer side as well as supporting them through each review meeting

We continue to monitor the Apprentices across their journey, looking at training and support needs. CAD training (at the start of their apprenticeship) and Excel training are two examples of additional support. The Apprentices are also given a structured plan at the start ensuring they have exposure to all the relevant departments within the organisation.

We are continually looking at reviewing the needs of the business. Across the Morson Group we train and employ in excess of 100 Apprentices in different parts of the business. We aim to continue the current Apprenticeship Programme with STEGTA, this has proven very successful”l.

Marks Training Officer – Helen Wilson commented “Mark took on this role about 18 months ago and has attended all reviews with learners at Darwen House without fail. He displays a friendly and approachable demeanour as has always helped out with any issues raised at reviews. Not only has he contacted colleges direct to ensure his learners have the best opportunity to learn, but he has provided positive feedback each review allowing learners to feel safe and looked after from a company perspective.

He has demonstrated integrity and works in a helpful yet conclusive manner making the relationship between training officer, learner and company work to a level of efficiency.

I have attended school functions with him and past learners going over and above our roles. This has allowed us to inform and select the best possible Apprentices to join STEGTA and Morson”.

STEGTA Excellence Award 2019 – Jack Treacy

We would like to Congratulate Jack Treacy who is employed by Mott Macdonald in Cambridge, as he has been awarded a STEGTA Excellence Award for Outstanding Performance in Building Services Engineering.

We asked Jack how he felt about winning the award.

Jack commented “In 2017, I decided to choose a career in Building Services Engineering due to a lecturer on my previous college course recommending it to me. After hearing this, instead of undertaking the direct university route to gain a Degree I decided to take the Apprenticeship route. Looking back now, it was probably one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Mott MacDonald have been very supportive so far throughout my Apprenticeship giving me opportunities to produce designs on projects which I never thought I would be able to as an Apprentice, unfortunately the majority of these are official sensitive meaning I cannot go into too much detail. My training officer from STEGTA, Olga Dickson, has also been very helpful by keeping me up to date on the latest news from CIBSE informing me on what I need to do in order to complete my Apprenticeship.

My future plans are to complete the Level 3 Advanced Apprenticeship which I am currently enrolled on and then progress onto the Higher Apprenticeship scheme where I can gain a degree and be another step closer to becoming chartered”.

Jacks Training Officer – Olga Dickson commented “Jack is a studious and hardworking Apprentice. He is inquisitive and keen to learn and never hesitates to contact me should he have any queries or questions about his training programme. He is a valued member of his team and enjoys being involved with any scheme or project that he is working on.

It is a pleasure to support Jack throughout his Apprenticeship and a joy to see his progression and passion for learning”.