Mercedes-Benz has honoured its commercial vehicle apprentices at it Apprentice of the Year Awards.

Kane Hindmarsh, from the Sheffield branch of Northside Truck & Van, took the trophy for Commercial Vehicle Parts Operations Specialist Apprentice of the Year.

William Stewart, of City West Commercials, Avonmouth, claimed the Commercial Vehicle Technical Apprentice of the Year title – a former trainee with the same dealer won the corresponding prize last year.

The winners will enjoy a week’s work with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas Formula One Team in the run up to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

Hindmarsh and Stewart were chosen from shortlists of three for their respective job categories, the finalists having been nominated by managers, mentors, assessors and trainers on the basis of their determination, commitment, initiative, and ability to work as part of a team.

David Joyce, customer services director for Mercedes-Benz Vans,  presented the commercial vehicle winners and runners up with their trophies. He launched the Mercedes-Benz Apprenticeship Programme in 1995.

“Having begun my own career as a 16-year-old apprentice I have always been a strong advocate of the benefits that accrue to Mercedes-Benz and, by extension, our customers, as a direct result of the substantial investments we make in training our young people,” he said.

“The apprentices whose fantastic achievements we are celebrating today represent the future of our business. They have all demonstrated high levels of engagement with exemplary attitudes and behaviour, while their clear focus and drive to succeed are very impressive.”

Hindmarsh said:“I’d had enough of conventional education and wanted to get out into the ‘real world’ and do something practical.”

Stewart added: “Being able to work on vehicles and strip engines ties in with my interest in engineering, so I certainly don’t have any regrets about the path I’ve taken. There’s been a lot of support from my mentor Joe Shields, while colleagues treat me as a valued member of the team; I feel a lot more mature now than I did when I started.”

The six Mercedes-Benz Commercial Vehicle Apprentice of the Year finalists were:

Parts Operations Specialist

  • Kane Hindmarsh, Northside Truck & Van, Sheffield (winner)
  • Dylan Harris, Euro Commercials, Swansea
  • Oliver Warrington, Orwell Truck & Van, Norwich

Technician

  • William Stewart, City West Commercials, Avonmouth (winner)
  • Ben Audsley, Northside Truck & Van, Hull
  • Christopher Egan, Western Commercial, Bellshill

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