24.08.2007

Apprentice awards

Steve Vickary apprentice service engineer at The Platform Company has won two first place and a runner up award in the UK national Apprentice Awards at the National Construction College in Norfolk.

Vickary is halfway through his three year apprentice programme with The Platform Company and the National Construction College, and has found the scheme a great introduction into working life:
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Steve Vickary receiving one of his awards from TV presenter Penny Mallory

“I spend six weeks at college studying for my NVQ advanced level three in Plant Mechanics, then the next six weeks working at The Platform Company’s Bristol branch. The ongoing switch between the two works really well as I get to put what I learn into use, then at the end of my course I’m straight into the job I’ve always wanted to do. Both my lecturers and work colleagues are extremely helpful and are happy to stay on after work or a class until I totally understand anything I may be struggling with”.

The two first places were taken in the Key Skills and the Personal Effort in Plant Mechanics categories, and the runner up spot secured for the Good Effort in Key Skills.

Andy Gilbert, national operations manager of The Platform Company attended the awards ceremony:

“With the apprenticeship scheme we can be sure that we will gain an already competent team member which is an important investment for the future of both the company and employee. I am very confident that Steve Vickary will be a great asset to us and look forward to watching his progression along a solid and rewarding career path within The Platform Company”.

Vertikal Comment

The crane and access industry needs more apprentice places like this, if we are to end the serious shortfall in the number of trained service engineers. It is very encouraging to see an increasing number of larger rental companies investing in your apprentices.

We need more middle to small companies following the example that companies such as The Platform Company, Hewden, Nationwide and AFI among others, are setting.