Miller’s Bright Spark

Bright spark David Baron has been recognised for his skill and enthusiasm as a welder to be named Apprentice of the Year. David, 20, has been honoured by the Northumbria branch of the Welding and Joining Society. His success follows that of Jonathan Fitton, another Miller UK employee who won the Apprentice of the Year title last year.

David has been studying for a City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate in engineering at Northumberland College in Ashington and has performed so well that he completed it six months early.

Apprentice of the Year - David Baron.

David was nominated for the award by his college lecturers Keith Temperly and Keith Reynolds. Keith Reynolds said:

David has a positive attitude towards his studies and is focused on completing all practical assignments ahead of schedule and to a high standard. I am in no doubt that he will achieve whatever goals he sets himself and I have no hesitation in recommending David Baron as Apprentice of the Year.

David said:

It was an honour to be nominated Apprentice of the Year and I am extremely proud to have actually won the award.

Stephen Brown, Production Manager, said:

It’s a pleasure to work with David. He has been dedicated and determined to learn his trade and has done a great job getting there. He is a great role model for our other apprentices.

He has performed brilliantly in the last 12 months to receive this accolade. He has improved his fabrication skills to a level equal to a skilled man. The feedback we have received from the college is that David has excelled. He has completed all his work with TDR Training, which manages his apprenticeship, and will be enrolling for an ONC course in engineering later this year.

Gavin Townsend, Operations Manager at Miller UK, added:

This is an outstanding personal result for David and a great example of the levels of excellence that everyone is striving for as we look to build and strengthen our future at Cramlington.

The Welding and Joining Society is an activity of the professional division of The Welding Institute, providing services to members from the welding, joining and allied technologies industries. The Northumbria branch covers Northumberland, Tyne & Wear and County Durham.