Blackpool-based Nathan, who recently completed a successful apprenticeship at local firm JET Electrical, was named the overall winner, while Chester-based Harrie and Southampton-based Oliver were named the national winners of the Mechanical Engineering Services (MES) and Electrical Engineering Maintenance awards respectively.

After being crowned winners for their academic and practical progress at JTL’s Regional Awards earlier this year, Nathan, Harrie and Oliver went on to compete against seven other regional electrical and MES winners at JTL’s National Apprentice Awards ceremony. As part of the selection process, each finalist was invited to be interviewed via an online platform by JTL’s chief executive Jon Graham, as well as national delivery director Judi Wheeler. Once completed and reviewed, it was agreed that Nathan, Harrie, and Oliver should be named JTL’s national winners at its annual apprentice award ceremony which took place at The Victory Services Club in London on the 2 September.

As the recipient of JTL’s National Apprentice of the Year Award 2021, Nathan was awarded an engraved glass trophy and £1,000 cheque from JTL. Harrie, meanwhile, received a voucher from UK Plumbing Services Limited, whilst Edmundson Electrical donated a Megger multi-function tester for Oliver.

Mr Graham said: “Our awards are a great opportunity to recognise the excellence of our top apprentices and it’s been a pleasure getting to know Nathan, Harrie and Oliver, as well as the other finalists as part of this process. It was wonderful, too, being able to gather for the first time in over two years to host our annual awards ceremony. Each of our apprentices, employers and JTL staff members have faced unprecedented challenges, both personal and professional, under the pandemic, and so it feels extra special to be able to get together as a group to celebrate the hard work and achievements of each of our finalists.”

Nathan, JTL’s National Apprentice of the Year for 2021, said: “To say that it feels amazing to have won the overall National Apprentice of the Year award is an understatement. I have overcome a lot of personal challenges in my life and, to me, this award is a symbol of how far I have come and all that I have achieved.”

JTL’s Electrical winner, Oliver, said on receiving his award: “I really didn’t expect to win anything today, so I am in complete shock. The lockdown period was incredibly challenging for me given the fact that I had to shield due to health reasons, so to be here in London and to have my work recognised by JTL feels like a great outcome to everything.”

Harrie, meanwhile, the winner of the MES award, said: “I am completely overwhelmed and delighted to receive such a prestigious award. I have worked hard throughout the whole of my apprenticeship and have really committed myself to becoming the best engineer that I can be, so to have my work recognised like this feels wonderful.”

The purpose of JTL’s National Awards is to recognise its highest achieving apprentices in the building services engineering sector and to celebrate their success. Candidates – who are all recently qualified – are nominated based on their outstanding performances throughout the four years of their training.