A TRIO of talented De Montfort School pupils saw their winning apprenticeship awards trophy design become a reality when they visited the headquarters of a machine tool firm.
Josh Bashford, Tom Linton and Anthony Pratley, all 17, from the Four Pools Road school were among hundreds of county students who entered the competition to design the new trophies for the first Worcestershire Annual Apprenticeship Awards which take place on Thursday (November 27).
The awards are being organised through a project between Worcestershire LEP and Worcestershire Business Central, the nationally recognised and backed Growth Hub for Worcestershire, in order to celebrate the county’s finest apprentices,
employers and schools.
Following their triumphant success, the three students were given a guided tour of Worcester based Mazak by David Barnett, learning and development manager, where they met apprentice Guy Derby and applications engineer David King who are turning their designs into the finished trophies.
The winning design, which features a laser cut silhouette of Worcestershire on a milled and turned base, will now be turned into twelve trophies for the awards night at the Tree Tops Pavilion at West Midlands Safari Park, hosted by Nick Hewer from BBC’s The Apprentice.
Mr Barnett said: “This project was unusual and interesting, and has been a great way to give young people an insight into design and engineering; it brings some relevance to the real world and helps connect learning with the practicalities of what we do here at Mazak.”
Tim Hayes, product design teacher at the De Montfort School, added: “It’s really a great thrill to be able to come to Mazak and see the trophies being made.
“I am both pleased and proud that some of our students have contributed to such a fantastic apprenticeship opportunity.” he added.
