A bright young man who chose to follow an apprenticeship in the electrical sector when he left school, is today celebrating a major accolade as he strives to develop a career in his chosen profession.
Huge congratulations go to Jack Hodgson from Carlisle, one of five JTL apprentices working at Meldrum Limited, a local company that has recently become part of VINCI Energies UK and Republic. He has taken on ‘all comers’ within the VINCI Energies & ROI, to be crowned Apprentice of the Year 2017 – quite a feat to come top of the tree from all the apprentices working in the company across all of the Infrastructure, Industrial and ICT Sectors. Not surprisingly, his bosses and workmates at Meldrum Limited are very proud of his achievement.
Jack left school at 16 and started work at Meldrum Ltd in Carlisle on an Electrical Installation Diploma Course, attending Carlisle College, supported by his JTL training officer Gary Hodgkison and his mentor at Meldrum Limited, Sector Manager Martin Hand. He has passed all his exams and only has his FS, AM2 and his portfolio to complete this year after which he’ll have successfully completed his apprenticeship, have qualified and be moving on in his career. During his working week, Jack works mainly in highly regulated industrial environments for his employer up and down the Cumbrian coast, including working at Sellafield and BAe Barrow in Furness.
Business Unit Manager, Steven Holliday said: “It was a very proud moment yesterday when Jack Hodgson became the 2017 VINCI Energies UK apprentice of the year. After much stiff competition Jack came out on top and has clearly demonstrated his working ability. I think everyone at Meldrum’s would agree that this well deserved accolade couldn’t have gone to a nicer young man. Well done Jack – you’re a worthy winner and hopefully this will be the first of many accolades in your career. I would also like to give special recognition and a huge thank you to Martin Hand, whose mentoring skills, help and support for Jack and his fellow apprentices, ensure they are where they are today. His dedication and support has been paramount in the success of these young apprentices and Meldrum.”
Training Officer Gary Hodgkison – from leading electrical work-based training provider JTL – was happy to add his congratulations: “In this role, JTL training officers are privileged to work with a number of apprentices across many employers and whilst most of them are excellent, some really stand out from the crowd and Jack has been there from the early days of starting his apprenticeship, showing his quality and willing to work hard and go the extra mile in what he does day to day. I am not surprised that he has achieved this award – it’s just reward for the dedication he has shown over the past four years.”
Jack is understandably delighted to have been recognised in this way: “It’s difficult to believe that I’ve been singled out from all the apprentices working in the Vinci Energies UK organisation. I’d like to thank those who decided I should get this award – it’s a profession I really enjoy and I’ve found my apprenticeship really worthwhile if occasionally challenging. I’d recommend an apprenticeship to anyone who wants to learn a profession. The opportunity to earn while you learn is something that attracted me, and I’d like to thank everyone that has helped me over the past four years. I’m excited by the challenges ahead as I qualify and move on in my chosen career.”