Engineering apprentices from Pendle companies swept the board in the North West Aerospace Alliance (NWAA) 2007 Young People Awards. The first A.V. Roe Award for apprentices from larger companies went to 17 year-old Amie Proud, who works at the Rolls-Royce plc Barnoldswick facility, while the Irene Short Award for apprentices from small to medium sized companies was won by Chris Nadin, also 17, who works for Weston EU, Foulridge. Amie, who lives in Cowling, works as an apprentice machinist, she formerly attended West Craven High School in Crosshills. Chris, a mechanical engineering apprentice, is a former pupil of Mansfield High School, Brierfield. Their achievements also helped training provider Training 2000, where they attend off-the-job training, to scoop the award for Best Training Provider. Two awards were given by the NWAA for the first time, adding the A.V. Roe Award to that given in appreciation of the work of “apprentices champion” Hon County Alderman Irene Short. Each of the winners received a specially commissioned trophy and £1000. NWAA Chief Executive Officer Martin Wright said that young people were a vital element of the knowledge base that was crucial in helping the North West aerospace cluster to keep driving forward, compete internationally, continue developing and remain sustainable. He added: “We need to sell the aerospace industry and remedy some of the misconceptions of previous years. We need to ensure that young people, from junior school age upwards, realise that we are not a back street workshop industry -- we are exciting, we are high tech, we are science-based and that is our future.” In addition to the NWAA, sponsors of the awards event included Rolls-Royce plc, BAE Systems, the Lancashire Learning and Skills Council, the National Skills Academy for Manufacturing and the University of Liverpool. In the next issue of Way to Go North West read about the day in life of an aerospace apprentice.
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