Renishaw apprentice wins at inaugural Apprentice Awards, Gloucestershire

In addition to being voted the Outstanding Apprentice in the Engineering & Manufacturing category, Tom also received the Diamond Jubilee Gloucestershire Apprentice of the Year award, which recognises the year's most outstanding apprentice. Two other Renishaw apprentices, Aaron Booth (third year) and Ollie Counsell (first year), also achieved nominations for the Engineering & Manufacturing award. The awards were presented by The Princess Royal at a gala dinner held at Cheltenham Racecourse on 4 April, which was attended by 350 apprentices and business leaders from across Gloucestershire. Tom, 23, is currently training as a production engineer at Renishaw's world-class machine shop in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. He initially started a mechanical engineering degree, but he quickly decided this was too theoretical and lacking in practical aspects. Tom has now taken on and completed major design projects within Renishaw, leading to his nomination by the company. In an interview afterwards, he said: "It is really good to have won. I love the design side of my work and manufacturing. I like all the aspects of the job and would recommend an apprenticeship to other people." He was, however, not dismissive of a university degree: "It is very much down to the interests and aptitude of each individual. You can still go on to study for a degree after an apprenticeship." Sir David McMurtry, Renishaw's chairman and chief executive, himself a former apprentice, said: "This is a proud moment for Tom and for the people within Renishaw who have helped mentor him over the past few years. We have an excellent track record of developing our own talent and our current UK manufacturing director joined us as an apprentice, aged just 16." Renishaw is currently recruiting for 29 apprentices within the UK for its various schemes, which now include technical, manufacturing, plant maintenance and software apprenticeships.