AN apprentice at a Tiverton business has won the coveted runner-up award for the national EEF Future Manufacturing award ‘Outstanding Achievement by a first year apprentice’.

HepcoMotion apprentice, Robert Hardie was invited to attend the EEF National Gala Dinner on April 15 at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London and learned that he was national runner-up during the first award category of the evening.

As part of the judging, Robert had attended an interview in London in front of a panel of five judges and had to take evidence of his training and education - in the form of logbooks, college reports and a piece of his own work.

Robert entered a unique engine that he had designed and built himself.

The judges were looking at both educational and technical experience, involvement in projects or significant contributions the apprentices have made to employer projects.

Robert said: “I have worked very hard to become successful within Hepco and am pleased that my work has been recognised.

“This shows that apprenticeships are just as valuable for training and career choices as any other route.”

“Hepco has supported me every step of the way and I look forward to progressing further within mechanical engineering and learning more about the business aspects.”