Engineering Apprentice wins Top 100 award

For a second year running one of Focus SB’s talented trainees has seen their achievements recognised by The Manufacturer’s Top100 awards as engineering apprentice Ryan Edwards is awarded Young Pioneer 2020.

Now in its seventh year, The Top 100 project is run by The Manufacturer magazine, in partnership with Cranfield University, one of the country’s top centres of business education, and publicly recognises the most dynamic leaders and innovators in manufacturing.

The event which aims to change popular perceptions of careers in manufacturing and inspire young people into the sector took place online this year and team members from Focus SB were delighted to attend and raise a glass to all those recognised for their outstanding achievements, in spite of challenging times.

Part way through studying for his Level 3 engineering qualification at Hastings college after joining our apprenticeship scheme straight from school, Ryan was nominated for the award by managing director Gary Stevens, who began his own career as a technical apprentice. When Ryan was asked ‘Why did you choose a manufacturing engineering apprenticeship?’ during an interview for Focus SB’s blog he told us “In July 2018 I felt inspired to apply to join Focus SB as an apprentice straight from school after looking at the company’s website”.

Gary Stevens on why he nominated Ryan for the Young Pioneer category in this year’s Top100 awards: “Ryan joined Focus SB in 2018, following years of trying to find the right person we took Ryan on because he was the only young person we could find who was genuinely interested in embarking on an apprenticeship, not just because he needed to find a job after finishing school. One of Ryan’s striking attributes were his interests outside of school; making, repairing and building things because he wanted to! Ryan even designed and built a shed to carry out repairs on his bicycle. Ryan lives 20 miles from the factory and he spent the first year cycling to and from work; a measure of his dedication and commitment, along with a 100% attendance record.

“Ryan has performed exceptionally well in his college studies and has fitted in equally well into a working environment that is predominantly mature and experienced engineers whom Ryan is making the most of learning from. Ryan has played an integral part in a new product tooling project by having first-hand input into the design and then the manufacture of the tooling as part of the team.

In addition to normal apprenticeship duties, Ryan has also visited a major exhibition and automation demonstration in Birmingham and has had a blog published on the Focus SB website. Ryan has also recently attended a live hotel site to assist in carrying out some remedial works and was praised by his fellow workers and the customer for his diligence.”

‘Young Pioneer A person who has made an impact disproportionate to their years, providing inspiration for the future of manufacturing in the UK.’

Read more at The Manufacturer, inspiring and celebrating British manufacturing talent.