Matthew Wins National Apprentice Award

Talented Automotive Apprentice, Matthew Samuda has recently been presented with the Chief Fire Officers’ Association’s Apprentice of the Year Award at the West Midlands Fire Service transport engineering workshop.

Sponsored by Allison Transmission, the award is open to apprentices at all fire services nationally, in recognition of the importance of workshop apprentice schemes to training for the repair and maintenance of emergency vehicles.

As part of the winning prize, Matthew Samuda (23) has received £250 Snap-on tools vouchers, a bespoke engraved torque wrench and has attended a 7-day Allison Transmission training course at the company’s European Headquarters in The Netherlands. Matthew won the award based on his performance at college and the progress made in developing practical skills in the workplace at the West Midlands Fire Service transport engineering workshop.

Matthew commented: “I’m really surprised and pleased to have won the award! I think I won it because I have made such vast progress from when I first began my apprenticeship. During my time here, I’ve been given the time and support to grow and develop my skills, and it’s great to be recognised for my hard work.

“I chose an Automotive Apprenticeship as it’s the best way to get ahead and gain hands-on experience. I have really enjoyed the style of learning and have met some great people here. You get treated like an adult and earn money whilst you gain your skills. I would like to use my experience here to gain a job working on articulated trucks in the future.”

Steve McCormac, Workshop Manager at the West Midlands Fire Service transport engineering workshop said: “Matthew made a quiet and tentative start, and has now matured into a responsible young man who’s achieved his goals. It wasn’t easy for him, but with support from the Fire Service and Walsall College, along with a lot of hard work, Matthew has excelled and his achievements have now been recognised on a national level”.

Kelvin Woodhouse, Matthew’s Assessor stated: “We are very proud of the progress and achievement Matthew has made. This award is well deserved and tribute must be paid to the mentoring of apprentices by the engineering staff, without whom this programme would not exist. West Midlands Fire Service has a rolling programme of apprentices, with four Walsall College apprentices working there at any one time. It is a credit to the managers at the Fire Service for keeping the programme running in such economically challenging times, nurturing the future talent in the industry”.