He now has a Level 3 NVQ diploma in digital pre-press and is a full-time reprographics operator, creating PDF proofs, stepping files and focusing on a large-format venture for the company in Blandford, Dorset. Managing director Trevor Smith is “delighted Ryan grasped his opportunity”, so too are the judges, who concluded: “Ryan shone in this category.”

Highly commended 

Alice Murray, Hunts

Teacher knows best, and account manager Alice Murray’s BPIF training co-ordinator reports: “Her NVQ portfolio is outstanding with written reports, evidence and observations.” The judging panel were pretty convinced too: “It’s easy to see why Alice is held in such high esteem by her colleagues and tutors” at the Oxfordshire printer.

Scott Stockman, Tradeprint 

“An outstanding candidate,” was one judge’s verdict. Scott was in what he described as a “dead-end job - working towards nothing” before he was offered the opportunity to join Tradeprint’s apprenticeship programme. During that time he earned the respect of his time-served colleagues and now runs a shift, and in the judge’s reckoning, “is at the start of an amazing career”.

Finalists

Alice Murray, Hunts

Ryan Samways, Amberley Adhesive Labels

Scott Stockman, Tradeprint