BMI Launches Apprentice of the Year Competition for 2020

BMI UK & IRELAND HAS launched its annual Apprentice of the Year competition to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week.

The company actively supports colleges throughout the UK with their work training roofing apprentices.

The contest, now in its fourth year, hopes to find the UK’s most promising apprentices and reward them for their commitment, ability and potential.

Mat Woodyatt, BMI Technical Training Manager, said, “National Apprenticeship Week is a time to recognise and applaud apprenticeship success stories across the country.

“Our commitment to help train apprentices is unwavering and BMI Apprentice of the Year is part of our commitment to recognise those working hard to achieve their goals. It has given us many success stories in the last few years and we are looking forward to welcoming the finalists to the BMI Academy in July.”

Previous winners and participants have gone on to start their own businesses, find more senior roles within the companies that employ them, represent industry trade bodies and even become tutors themselves.

Cieran Peel-Price, who was a finalist in 2017 and 2018, said, “It taught me a lot and was one of the things that encouraged me to broaden my own skills base. It also taught me the value of quality training.

“The facilities at the BMI Academy are excellent, and I’ve recently undertaken some of their flat roofing courses to give me more business opportunities.”

Entering

The competition opens on 2nd March 2020 and welcomes all those recognised as an apprentice by their employer, or those working towards qualified status.

Entry is via a written submission or video which can be submitted online. Entrants will then be selected for the final, which takes place during July at the BMI Academy in Gloucestershire.

Finalists will receive professional coaching on a range of topics including presentation skills, health and safety and making technical assessments.

Last year’s winners, Oscar Miller and Matthew Ford

Last year’s pitched roofing winner, Matthew Ford, said, “It boosted my confidence no end. The competition went into areas that just aren’t covered in college and it was never just about simply putting on a roof. We learnt other skills about presentation, relating to the clients, and looking at business plans.”

Oscar Miller, who picked up the flat roofing award, said, “I entered the competition because it would give me extra experience and knowledge that I wouldn’t get if I didn’t go.

“I thought if I won it would be a massive achievement – there’s only two winners each year – and the fact that I did was another box ticked. It was fantastic.”