Newly qualified electricians, Jack Varney and Joel Collins have come out on top at this year’s JTL National Apprentice Awards.
The duo both picked up awards at a ceremony held on Tuesday 12 June at One Moorgate Place in London. Varney was chosen as Overall National Apprentice of the Year, whilst Collins walked away with the title National Electrical Apprentice of the Year.
Both were chosen from 1,665 final year apprentices and presented with an award and a cheque by JTL chief executive, Jon Graham.
Candidates (all in the final year of their apprenticeships) are nominated from each of JTL’s seven regions across England and Wales on the basis of their outstanding performances throughout the four years of their training.
Varney, who completed his apprenticeship at Hull-based Humber Electrical Engineering, now works for Inspec Systems – an electrical engineering company specialising in the food, pharmaceutical and chemical industries. Inspec is supporting Jack through an HNC in Electrical Instrumentation, Plant and Process and, longer term, he has his sights set on a degree and a career as a chartered engineer.
Collins was only 16 when he started his apprenticeship and now works for Pettit Singleton Associates – one of the North West’s largest building services engineering practices.
Jon Graham says: “Our awards are a great opportunity to recognise the excellence of the learners we work with. These are bright individuals, many of whom have had the opportunity to go to university but have made the choice to follow an apprenticeship and ‘earn while they learn’.
“In my conversations with this year’s finalists, I’ve been struck by the maturity of each of them – they’ve carefully weighed up their options and then committed 100% to their apprenticeship. We recognised and celebrated some brilliant young talent at our awards ceremony. It’s been a pleasure and an inspiration getting to know Jack, Joel and the other finalists as part of this process.”
Overall National Apprentice of the Year 2018 for JTL, Jack Varney with left JTL Chairman Geoff Russell and CEO Jon Graham Overall National Apprentice of the Year 2018 for JTL, Picture: Jack Varney with (left) JTL Chairman Geoff Russell and CEO Jon Graham.