APPRENTICE MATTHEW‘ COULDN’ T BE HAPPIER’ AT 3M
Aycliffe Business Make Your Mark Awards
APPRENTICE OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by
THE FINALISTS
KELSEA-JO WATSON( SOUTH WEST DURHAM TRAINING)
Hiyed founder-director Tracy Fee handed the Apprentice of the Year award to 3M’ s Matthew Davis.
APPRENTICE MATTHEW‘ COULDN’ T BE HAPPIER’ AT 3M
Persistence paid off for Apprentice of the Year Matthew Davis, who’ s been excelling in his role with 3M Aycliffe. Aycliffe Village lad Matthew, 23, admits that when he was younger, he tried for several roles with various companies at Aycliffe Business Park but failed to get taken on.
But it turns out that their loss has been 3M’ s gain as Matthew – now a fourth year apprentice – continues to impress.
He didn’ t get off to an easy start either, with his first year severely disrupted by the Covid pandemic.
Now, though, he’ s flying with 3M and has even helped save the company £ 50,000 to date – earning himself a 3M reward scheme silver award – for an apprenticeship-based sustainability project around capturing and repairing air leaks.
Matthew – who perhaps gave the most naturally astonished reaction on stage to receiving his award, to laughter from the 300-strong audience – explained:“ I’ ve really enjoyed my apprenticeship – I’ ve liked all the colleges I’ ve gone to and now I’ m doing a HND with Teesside University.
“ They’ re keen to put me forward so I can finish my apprenticeship early and start working. Then as long as I keep performing well, they’ re happy to put me through my degree, which I’ m ecstatic about.”
Standing 6ft 6ins, Matthew enjoys hiking and mountaineering in his spare time –“ I’ ve done all the big UK ones,” he says.
He also thanked 3M apprentice lead Gary Simon for putting him forward for the award.
He said:“ There are nine apprentices at 3M and when Gary said he wanted to put me forward for the award, I was really pleased.
“ He’ s the one who works closest to us so the fact there’ s nine of us and he put me forward meant a lot.”
Matthew says that after finishing school and college, a few months with an electrician on his local estate showed him the sort of career avenue he wanted to go down.
And now with some sort of electrical engineering degree on the horizon, he couldn’ t be happier, especially having achieved distinction in his apprenticeship EPA – a grade only 15 % of apprentices achieve nationally.
He said:“ I just want to keep going as far as I can, really. I want to get my degree and hopefully move up – and I’ m very happy working at 3M, it’ s a great company.”
Kelsea-Jo is an aspiring metal fabricator / welder who has gained the knowledge, skills and behaviours as well as the practical skills required in industry throughout her time at South West Durham Training.
Kelsea arrived at SWDT as a timid, underconfident student who doubted whether this was the right course for her, especially as she was the only female. However, she continues to demonstrate great courage and perseverance.
Kelsea has contributed to breaking the stereotypical mould by demonstrating that females have a place in metal fabrication and welding.
RUTH ALDERSON( CONTEGO ENVIRONEMNTAL RESPONSE)
Ruth is an outstanding apprentice who has demonstrated exceptional dedication, adaptability and professionalism throughout her Level 3 business administration apprenticeship at Contego. As a group finance assistant, she has successfully navigated challenges such as business acquisitions, staff turnover and the financial demands of a rapidly-growing company, all while excelling in her studies. Her quick thinking, problem-solving abilities and strong communication skills have made her an invaluable asset to the business.
PREVIOUS WINNERS 2024: KYLE BARTLE( HUSQVARNA) 2022: ELLIE SHOOTER( DIGITAL EDGE) 2018: KAYLEE MCNALLY( ARLINGTON AUTOMOTIVE) 2016: BEN THUBRON( BALTIC TRAINING) 2015: LUKE REYNOLDS( GREGG LITTLE TESTING CENTRE) 2014: TOM WISE( D & S SERVICES)
30 | Aycliffe Business