Tiverton Apprentice Wins Prestigious Regional Award

Date:Friday 26 October 2018

A talented Exeter College Apprentice from Tiverton has won a prestigious regional Apprentice award at this year’s EEF Future Manufacturing Awards.

Tobias Cowan, aged 21, who works for HepcoMotion, came up trumps by taking gold in the Engineering Manufacturing Apprentice Award.

The award recognises the outstanding contribution being made by manufacturing apprentices across the region. The award is highly-respected and hotly contested with winners selected by a panel of judges drawn from business leaders, industry experts and academics.

Tobias beat off competition from across the region and won the title after impressing judges with his commitment, ambition and drive to pursue a career in manufacturing. Tobias’ passion, hard work and attention to detail, along with his ambitions for a teaching role within the sector were the deciding factors for the judging panel.

Judges said they had been overwhelmed by the high calibre of apprentices nominated this year, making Tobias’s win even more of an achievement.

Tobias is now in the running for the national title where he will go head-to-head with regional winners from across the UK at the national awards gala in London in January next year.

Tobias Cowan, Apprentice at HepcoMotion, says: “I am delighted to have won this award and to have been crowned regional winner. It’s an amazing feeling to be recognised for doing something I genuinely enjoy and is setting me up for my future. I’m only at the very start of my career, so to receive gold at these awards and be singled out in this way is a real boost and will motivate me even more.

“My apprenticeship is challenging and rewarding and I hope my success encourages others to think hard about taking up an apprenticeship in manufacturing too. Now I can’t wait to get to the national finals to meet the other regional winners and see how I compare.”

Jim Davison, Membership Director for the South at EEF says: “Tobias undoubtedly deserves this award. He won the judges over with his hard work, enthusiasm and dedication. It’s right that he should be congratulated for doing so well, especially when up against other candidates of such high quality.

“Manufacturing is essential to British economic success and apprentices have a vital role to play in securing the future of our sector. It’s great to see Tobias’ efforts being recognised and I wish him the best of luck at the national finals, he’s a fantastic role model.”

For more information about the awards visit: www.eef.org.uk/awards/.