A TRAINEE at Vauxhall has joined an elite group of regional winners in the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards 2012.

The awards took place last week at Salford Stadium, with prizes in 10 different categories handed out in front of more than 100 attendees from various Manufacturing organisations across the North West.

Jamie Berry, 17, from Spital, won the EEF North West Region Outstanding Achievement by a First Year Apprentice Award, sponsored by Semta.

Jamie, who has now started his second year of an Engineering Maintenance apprenticeship, has embraced his apprenticeship at Ellesmere Port’s Vauxhall plant.

At West Cheshire College, he was named Apprentice of the Year after producing an excellent standard of work throughout the year.

The annual business awards are hosted by EEF, the UK manufacturers’ organisation, and recognise excellence in enterprise, innovation, environmental performance and skills development among UK manufacturers.

David Ost, EEF North West regional director, said: “This award was fiercely contested and it was a difficult choice to select from the high quality entries we received.

“Jamie is an extremely dedicated individual with a passion for engineering – this marked him out as role model who will inspire other young people to achieve. He is a great ambassador for UK manufacturing and has an exciting future ahead of him.”

The judging panel praised Jamie’s achievements, stating: “From an early age he has been committed to a career in engineering. Having secured his apprenticeship, he has gone on to ensure he makes the most of every opportunity and as a result is progressing extremely well.”

Jamie will go forward to compete against other regional winners from across the UK in EEF’s National Awards final on January 31, 2013 in London.