Submarine steelworker wins Apprentice Of Year award

Tom Crowe, a 20-year old apprentice from BAE Systems' submarine business in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, has been named 'BAE Systems Apprentice of the Year' at the company's UK Apprenticeship Awards.

He joined BAE Systems in 2008, completed his apprenticeship in October 2011 and is now studying for a foundation degree in Business Management at Furness College, with the company's support. He works in a steel-work team on Audacious, the fourth boat of the Astute Class of submarines being built for the Royal Navy at Barrow.

Receiving his award, Crowe said: "I'm shocked! I really didn't expect to win….It is such a prestigious award, because you are competing against so many other apprentices who also deserve to win. It was the final award and I didn't even expect to be nominated!"

The awards recognise excellence in the workplace and academic study, and an award is also made for work in the community. BAE Systems is one of the largest employers of apprentices in the UK with 1,000 in training at any one time. In 2012, it will be recruiting a further 265 apprentices across the UK.
Alongside the overall winner, a further eight awards were made. From Brough in East Riding of Yorkshire, Stephanie Steels won the Craft Mechanical Achievement Award.

John Church, a BAE Systems apprentice from RAF Marham, won the Craft Electrical Achievement Award and David Crawford from Govan in Scotland won the Craft Fabrication Achievement.

Presenting the awards, Nigel Whitehead, group managing director at BAE Systems, added: "Our 1,000 apprentices are critical in ensuring the company maintains a pool of engineering and business talent. Many of BAE Systems' senior managers started as apprentices and I'd thoroughly recommend the training programme as a career option."

Through its Skills 2020 programme, BAE Systems invests more than £79 million per annum in the UK in education and schools activity, university partnerships and training and development for employees, including apprentices and graduates. Skills 2020 represents BAE Systems' commitment to ensuring it has the right skills to remain competitive and operate successfully in the UK over the next decade, into 2020 and beyond.

Author
Brian Wall

Related Companies
BAE Systems Submarines

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