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Apprentice Peter Krynicki picked up the prestigious title
of 2007 Metals Industry Apprentice of the Year at the Metals
Industry Awards Evening last week in Sheffield (25/04). He
was among 52 high achievers from metals companies to be recognised
at this year’s Awards Evening organised by MetSkill,
the strategic skills body for the UK metals industry.
Peter, 23, a skilled machine setter/operator
at KMF (Precision Sheet Metal) Limited in Newcastle-under-Lyme,
beat off strong competition from six other outstanding finalists
to clinch the hotly-contested title of Metals Industry Apprentice
of the Year.
Peter completed his advanced apprenticeship
in March. During his time with the company he has made his
mark through his exemplary attitude and “can do”
approach to work. His successes include working with KMF’s
business improvement team to implement cost-saving and efficiency–boosting
lean manufacturing practices in his work area, inputting to
the New Product Development team to ensure customer satisfaction,
and helping to introduce new software to standardise production
procedures for best results. Along with two senior colleagues,
Peter was selected to receive specialist training in operating
and maintaining sophisticated new automated machinery at the
Austrian manufacturers, giving him a lot of responsibility
within a small select team. He has even become one of the
first points of contact in the company if technical problems
arise – despite his peer group consisting of more experienced
personnel.
MetSkill Chairman and Chief Executive of Metsec
plc, Stephen Tilsley, presided over the ceremony attended
by over 180 employers and key industry partners, including
event sponsors EEF Sheffield, to mark the skills and achievements
of individuals and companies through a number of awards. Commending
his success, he said: “Peter’s achievements are
testimony to the vital contribution apprentices make to their
businesses so very early on in their career.”
In his welcome speech to guests Mr Tilsley highlighted
the need for metals employers to boost recruitment of apprentices
to help provide continuity of vital skills and knowledge and
improve the industry’s age profile.
“What apprentices bring to a business
is vital,” he said. “Certainly most start making
a genuine business contribution right from the very early
stages of their apprenticeship. That’s an extremely
important message that we need to convey to other employers
throughout our sector. We need to re-build our training infrastructure
and get back a sub-culture of developing youngsters to become
our skilled craftspeople, technical experts and business managers
of the future.
“Companies such as KMF, where Peter works,
know that the pay-off is having a wonderful source of young
people who understand both products and processes in depth.
They embrace company culture and core values and grow into
well motivated individuals who are highly skilled and add
huge value to the business.”
Peter Krynicki was presented with £1,200
of computer vouchers by the evening’s celebrity guest,
Dennis Taylor, former snooker world champion and television
personality.
Peter said: “I’m thrilled
and very proud to have won the Apprentice of the Year title
and I’m sure it will help my career. I intend to undertake
more internal training to enhance my knowledge and understanding
and hope to progress to the role of team leader, then eventually
become a production technician.”
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