Bethany is a manufacturing technology degree apprentice who works as a project engineer at the University of Sheffield Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), was crowned the 2020 champion by Sir George at an online celebration held last night. She was also named ‘degree apprentice of the year’, making it a double win for the talented 25-year-old.
Her work for the AMRC Gear Centre team focuses on developing novel gear cutting techniques for gear manufacturing, was "shocked and beyond grateful" to have been recognised for both awards.
“It honestly means the absolute world to me and is the perfect positive ending to this year in particular,” she said. “This has definitely been the highlight and the best way I could have ever wanted to end my apprenticeship journey.
“I can't thank all of the staff and trainers at the AMRC Training Centre enough. I can honestly say I wouldn't be the engineer I am today without each of them and the AMRC has been a support network beyond anything I could have asked for in an employer.”
Sir George was part of the panel that chose this year's winners and described Bethany as a ‘committed and impressive apprentice’, praising her abilities as an engineer and a skills ambassador for the region.
“Bethany displayed great ambition and academic excellence and is regarded as absolutely outstanding by the AMRC Training Centre, having impressed with her academic achievements,” said he said. “She scored the top mark at the end of her degree apprenticeship second year and has gone on to achieve a clear first-class honours degree.
“There’s no doubt in the judges’ minds that Bethany is a genuine and proven high-flier. She has shown determination second-to-none which has helped her excel in her studies and play a pivotal role in her position within the AMRC.
“We were very impressed with Bethany’s ambassadorial qualities - she genuinely champions the principles of apprenticeships and is an inspirational role model to all young engineers.”
A celebration event had been scheduled to take place earlier this year at Firth Court in Sheffield but the Covid-19 pandemic meant the ceremony had to move to the virtual world with the University of Sheffield AMRC Training Centre holding a ‘24-hour social media takeover’ to mark the occasion.
Nominations for the awards were made by employers and trainers to recognise the achievement or contribution apprentices have made to industry and were judged by a panel of AMRC Training Centre staff and award sponsors.
As part of her prize for winning the overall Apprentice of the Year 2020 title, Bethany will be rewarded with a visit to Stanley Black & Decker’s Global Tools & Storage headquarters in Towson, Maryland, USA - when safe to do so - and will have the opportunity of additional training that includes best practice in advanced, innovative subjects such as automation, robotics, additive design and manufacturing.
Other winners at this year’s annual awards were:
- Fabrication and Welding: Rhys Jordan Lowe of Dearneside Fabrications, sponsored by C&S Fabrications;
- Maintenance: Joshua Keyworth of Pryor Marking Technology, sponsored by Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence;
- Machining: Dalton Philip Brodie of AESSEAL, sponsored by Sandvik Coromant;
- Technical Support: Will Smith of Radius Aerospace, sponsored by the MTA;
- First Year: Kirbi Leigh Taylor of NIKKEN, sponsored by Hallam FM;
- HNC Achiever of the Year: Jordan Clayton of Polypipe, sponsored by NIKKEN;
- Degree Apprentice: Bethany Cousins of University of Sheffield AMRC, sponsored by Close Brothers;
- Special Recognition Award: Dalton Philip Brodie of AESSEAL, sponsored by Boeing.
Nikki Jones, director of the AMRC Training Centre, said she is proud of "each and every one" of the apprentices; not only for how they have coped with the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic during 2020 but for their dedication and commitment to achieving their apprenticeship ambitions.
“This ceremony has always been about embracing the future and that feels more relevant now than ever as we look to the talents of our smart apprentices to help manufacturing and engineering on the road to recovery and towards a smart, sustainable resilient future," she said.
“It’s been a tough year for all of us but I can’t help but be filled with pride when I think of how our apprentices have risen to the challenges brought about by the pandemic; they have proven themselves with a determined passion and tenacity to succeed.”
