Hard work, initiative and a meticulous attention to detail are just some of the attributes that have helped a talented young trainee electrician to be named as ‘Apprentice of the Year’ by property maintenance specialists City Response Limited.
Twenty one year old Tom Robley, of Newbold, Chesterfield, is the first to receive the award, launched this year, which recognises the skills and ability of City Response Ltd apprentices and is sponsored by electrical wholesalers Newey and Eyre.
A panel of judges drawn from City Response, Newey & Eyre and their largest housing association customer were impressed by Tom’s hard work and achievements and unanimously agreed he was exactly the sort of apprentice they were seeking to spotlight with the award.
Andy Plant, Executive Director of City Response Ltd, said: “We were impressed not only with Tom’s technical skills, evidenced by examples of his work and college grades, but also by his enthusiasm and attitude to work that shone through in his references. Apprenticeships are at the heart of our development strategy and young people like Tom are just the kind of people we want to bring fresh ideas and innovation in to our business.”
Tom’s mentor and supervisor Richard Fripp, highlighted Tom’s initiative and forethought, describing him as a “one in a million”. He said: “Tom is a self-starter, he doesn’t need constant supervision and works well by himself. He is very intuitive; when we’re working together I don’t have to tell him what tools I need next, he just knows instinctively. He is one of those apprentices that every tradesman dreams of having.”
Tom applied for the apprenticeship programme two years ago with the aim of learning a trade he could rely on. During his placement he has worked on domestic properties; installing, maintaining and repairing electrical services, at the same time as studying for his City & Guilds and NVQ qualifications at college.
Tom said: “When City Response took me on I felt like I’d been given a second chance. I’ve tried 100%, I’ve learned a lot and gained a great deal of experience, but there is still a lot to learn.
“I didn’t think I had a chance of winning the award, but I am really happy I’ve won. I’d like to thank City Response for giving me this opportunity, and especially Richard Fripp, my mentor, who has helped me a lot.” He added: “When I finish I will be a fully qualified electrician and I hope to keep progressing with this career and always be in work.”
Along with his presentation trophy Tom received £500 worth of tools, donated by Newey & Eyre.