George Wimpey West Scotland announces Apprentice of the Year

George Wimpey West Scotland Ltd is delighted to announce that Tom Gibson, aged 20 of Kilmarnock has been awarded ‘Apprentice of the Year 2007’ in their region.

Currently based across several of the George Wimpey developments in Ayrshire, third-year brick-layer apprentice Tom, has won this accolade in recognition of his commitment, dedication, attendance and workmanship to both the company’s Apprenticeship Programme and his college work.

As well as recognition within the company, and his well-deserved certificate, Tom also scoops £250. Runner-up in second place was second-year bricklayer Peter Barr from Neilson in Glasgow who wins £150, and third place was picked up by first-year joiner Kenneth McClintock from Kilmarnock who wins £100.

Tom is delighted to have picked up The Apprentice of the Year 2007 award: “This is a really great personal achievement for me and I’m delighted to have my work recognised in this way by within such a well-respected company as George Wimpey. Once I’ve completed my apprenticeship, ultimately I’d love to continue to progress with George Wimpey to be as successful as I can be – and my overall goal is to become a site manager.”

The company is rightfully proud of its Apprenticeship Programme as Hugh Beattie, production manager for George Wimpey West Scotland explains: “We’re now in our ninth year of the Apprentice Programme, and we’re delighted to be supporting the construction industry at grass-root level to produce well-trained apprentices to create a good flow of talent into each of the trades of our business.

“We now have apprentices at various stages of training and development within our Apprenticeship Programme, and they’re very important to our business, as well as the building trade in general. They are the future skill base that we’ll most definitely need, and it gives us great satisfaction to see Tom recognised for his continuous hard work and commitment to the job in this year’s awards.”

Promoting and supporting apprentice schemes like George Wimpey’s will hopefully encourage more apprentices into the trade as Mark McConville, managing director of Drumbrow Contracts Ltd and main sponsor of this year’s awards adds: “We’re delighted to support such a positive initiative where apprentices are given strong training and experience to get them started in the building industry. George Wimpey is a valued business partner and anything we can do together to encourage apprentices into the trade must be seen as a good move.”

Adding his congratulations, Jim Hamilton, apprentice administrator for George Wimpey West Scotland Ltd said: “Tom has given the Apprentice Programme his full commitment this year, and is an excellent role model for the other young apprentices out on sites across the region.”