Lorenzo takes top city apprentice honour

AESSEAL's Lorenzo Camattari was crowned Sheffield's first ever Employers' Apprentice of the Year at a fundraising dinner organised by Sheffield Forgemasters' young employees.

The event, which raised more than £2,500 for Sheffield Mencap, was planned by a team from Sheffield Forgemasters and attracted entries from high profile companies with apprentices from across the region.

Lorenzo took top honour with Sarah Brookes from PwC LLP and Sam Kelly from Kennedys Law finishing as runners up at the event held at Sheffield United's Platinum Suite at Bramall Lane.

Apprentice Lorenzo said: "I am extremely proud to have won the first ever Employers' Apprentice of the Year award, especially considering the quality of apprentices not only at AESSEAL but throughout the region. I would also like to say a massive thank you to AESSEAL for the ongoing support and the opportunities I have been given."

Chris Breffit, Training & Applications Engineer at AESSEAL added: "I am delighted that Lorenzo has won this award especially with the high levels of entrants. This is further evidence that investment in flexible high quality apprentice programs is the future not only for our business, but engineering and UK manufacturing in general."

Joanna Allen, director at PwC in Sheffield added: "PwC has a long history of recruiting and valuing talented school leavers and in Sheffield this year we have recruited two Higher Apprentices. Higher Apprenticeships enable us to continue to attract and employ the best candidates from a wide and varied talent pool and are opening up professional services to a much wider market than ever before."

Companies putting forward submissions included AESSEAL, PwC, Rotherham College, Hallamshire Engineering Services Ltd, Abbey Forged Products and Kennedys Law.

The event, included a meal, live band Redfern, comedian Zack Stevens and magician Steve Faulkner, and was endorsed and supported by Sheffield Forgemasters' chief executive Dr Graham Honeyman, who is a patron of Sheffield Mencap.

Sheffield Forgemasters' apprentices Josh Johnson, Bradley McDonald, Dan Millington, Amy Fretwell, Dominic Jones, Harry Pearce-Hurst and Max Goodall organised the event.

Rick Franckeiss, group training officer at Sheffield Forgemasters, said: "We are hoping this award will become an annual event on the calendar for anyone with successful apprentices and more companies will come on board on the organisational side."

The money raised from the event will go towards funding Sheffield Mencap's work to help change the lives of people with learning disabilities across the city.

Also presented on the evening was the SEMTA Metals Industry Awards with Paul Hinchcliffe from TATA Academy Stocksbridge winning the Career Development Award and Bridon's Josh Reekie taking the Craft Skills Award. Former Furniss and White's Harry McIntosh and Fox Wire's George Moore finished as runners up respectively.