• Royal Signals recognises its top apprentices in awards presentation.
• Soldiers from across the Corps received prizes.
• Prizes were awarded from both industry partners and the Master of Signals.
Each year, the Royal Signals Institute recognises excellence throughout the Royal Signals Apprenticeship Scheme through the RSI Awards. This year's event, held at the Corps Headquarters at Blandford Camp, Dorset, identified those apprentices who had achieved exceptional results and also those members of staff who had excelled in making the scheme such a success.
The Army Apprenticeship Programme is the largest such employer-provided programme in the country, and soldiers benefit from a wide range of formal and on-the-job training and education. The Royal Signals is the leading provider of technical apprenticeships in the Army.
Lt Col Chris Fogarty, Commanding Officer of 14 Signal Regiment, who won the Champion Unit award said, "There are currently 23 personnel from the Regiment undertaking apprenticeships and the benefits are substantial to both us and them. It's a win-win situation, as the scheme allows our soldiers to gain confidence in their trades and develop wider employability, primarily through on-the-job training. It also provides a direct benefit to the operational outputs of the unit - the knowledge, skills and experience gained are currently being used by apprentices deployed on operations by 14 Sig Regt (EW) personnel. The apprenticeship scheme highlights how the Unit and the wider Corps are investing in its people and shaping the next generation of technical soldiers. The support from The Colleges Partnership and Corps HQ has been critical in its success and we look forward to continued cooperation in future.”
The overall winner was Sig Burridge from 3(UK) Div Sig Regt who said, "I feel it has helped me to develop my knowledge of my trade as a Network Engineer, improving my personal skills and professional performance by having a wider understanding of the technical aspect the role requires. I believe the support of my peers, my mentor and my attitude to learning has contributed to receiving the award as they have all helped to ensure I understand how the NVQ relates to my role, especially when deployed."
BAE Systems Defence Information sponsor the Royal Signals Apprentice of the Year award. Murray McLeod-Jones MBE, Head of Campaign Delivery said, "We believe apprentice schemes sit at the core of developing people and capability and this programme and award strongly resonates with our own vision and values. I am truly delighted to have been invited to support and participate in the prize-giving ceremony."
Awards were presented by the Master of Signals, Major General Sharon Nesmith, who said, "I am delighted to be able to present awards to so many of our very talented people. To see so many apprentices achieving excellence is really heartening and bodes well for the future of our Corps, and I'm very proud of the superb young people who have excelled and who have received the well-deserved recognition for their efforts. The Royal Signals rightly have a fantastic reputation in apprenticeship training, and our winners today demonstrate how much we are continuing to invest in our future."
Congratulations to all the winners:
• LCpl Kavanagh, 22 Sig Regt – (Info Svcs Eng)
• Sig Burridge, 3(UK) Div Sig Regt – (Nets Eng)
• Sig Harwood, HQ BFSAI – (Comms Infra Eng)
• LCpl Pratip Gurung, 3(UK) Div Sig Regt – (Supply Chain Op)
• LCpl Dodd, 245 Sig Sqn, 14 Sig Regt(EW) – (EWSI)
Pictured above, Sig Burridge, Sig Harwood and Sig Gurung
In addition, and exceptionally, second prizes for two of the trade groups have been agreed as follows:
• LCpl Parr, 2 Sig Regt – (Info Svcs Eng)
• Sig Mitchell, 30 Sig Regt– (Nets Eng)
• The Royal Signals Apprenticeship Champion is awarded to Cpl Bura, 11(RSS) Sig Regt (Pictured at Top)
• The Royal Signals Apprenticeship Champion Unit award is made to 14 Sig Regt (EW) who will hold the Unit Trophy for one year.
