Nick Lloyd, Finning Group UK managing director, attended the ceremony to offer congratulations and presented each graduate with a certificate. He said: “I too started out as a young apprentice and moved up the ranks. I will be taking retirement shortly, but do so in the knowledge that in the years to come, the business will be in the capable hands of talented individuals such as these.”
Among the graduates was 20-year-old Gary Miller from the Grangemouth depot, who was named apprentice of the year after excelling throughout college. He was twice named the apprentice of the year at his Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) college placement.
The apprenticeship scheme at Hewden is a four-year course. The first three years are spent learning the skills of a fitter through college placements with the CITB. As a result, the apprentices achieve NVQ level two and potentially level three, as well as putting that learning into practice back at their depot.
In the final year, the apprentices consolidate their experience in one of Hewden’s 360 depots throughout the UK, gaining first-hand experience under the guidance of expert engineers.
