Newark-based Derry Building Services recognises apprentices and long serving employees with awards ceremony

Young people and loyal employees have been honoured at an industry awards ceremony held this week.

Every year, Derry Building Services holds a special event which recognises the hard work of electrical, mechanical, and technical engineering apprentices and some of their longest serving employees.

The Newark firm takes on young people and trains them up with the relevant skills and knowledge they need to excel in their chosen fields within the construction industry.

Brian Hughes, Derry Building Services director, said: “Our biggest asset is our staff, and we like to take care of our own.

“The awards is about recognising all those who have really committed to learning, and it shows that if you work hard you will go far.

“Across the board the industry is suffering because there aren’t enough people coming in. As a business, we want to to continue training and employing new people, so that we are giving back to the industry.

“We also want people to feel like they belong, and reward them by giving them opportunities to move up.

“Most of our long serving colleagues started out as apprentices with us, and it really shows the young ones that they can be anything they want to be.”

The awards, now in its 19th year, highlights the achievements of individuals who have proven themselves in the classroom or out on the jobsite learning a trade.

Mechanical Apprentice of the Year recipient, Joe Burrell, said: “I feel really proud. I’ve never been someone that could sit in an office.

“I like the hard work and getting stuck in, and we receive all the support we need to do that.

“They want all of us apprentices to do the best that we can and they send us to good quality colleges to make sure that happens.”

Dominic Moyle received the Professional Conduct Technical award. He said: “I came to Derry’s two years ago to finish my learning and I have to say I have always been very well supported.

“The instructors and tutors have great knowledge, we are given the time we need to study, and if we have any issues all we have to do is ask.

“I’ve always had an interest in engineering from a young age and it’s tremendous to be able to get into the industry.”

Apprentice award winners:

Mechanical Apprentice of the Year, Joe Burrell; Mechanical Achievement Award, Declan Carnelley; Highly Commended Award, Ryan Bosworth.

Electrical Apprentice of the Year (Stage 1), Oliver Jarvis; (Stage 2) Zak Daubney; (Stage 3) Edward Daley; (Stage 4) Ben Williams.

Techinal Award, George Hodgson. Professional Conduct Award, Dominic Moyle.

Long service award winners:

25 year of service; Rob Atwood, electrical project manager; Tessa Redmile, testing department administrator; and Chris Wragg, approved electrician.

10 years of service; Clare Flewitt, estimating administrator; Neil Meredith, principal design engineer; Andrew Stokes, principal design engineer; Rebecca Kennedy, administrator; Tom Cruttenden, senior electrical design engineer; Vaidas Perednis, senior electrical design engineer; Dillon Jones, senior electrical design engineer; James Lane, electrical design engineer; Chris Bloxham, mechanical engineer; Louis Hallam, H&V craftsperson.