Apprentices of the Month

At CoTrain, we recognise excellence by selecting an "Apprentice of the Month," "Training Provider of the Month," and "Employer of the Month" every month. These awards celebrate outstanding dedication and success in apprenticeship training. Each recipient receives a certificate to honour their achievements, inspiring others to strive for excellence in their journey.

JULY 2024 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH

Michael Day

Michael came to CoTrain in January 2023 eager to start a career in construction where he could gain some useful qualifications to back up his learning and commitment to training. Michael previously worked for a company designing and building bespoke furniture but there was no formal training program and the apprenticeship gave him the opportunity to continue working in construction and gain those formal qualifications he desired to fulfil his ambitions. Working on a new extension to the Southampton University Jubilee Leisure Centre he has quickly fitted well into the Wates Construction site team. His willingness to learn, reliability and ability to use the knowledge he has learned in 18 months has given him the chance to manage site packages and thrive with the responsibility. He has quickly gained the respect of his peers with his can do attitude and CoTrain are proud of Michaels achievements academically and in the physical workplace. 

image: Mark Pope handing Apprentice of the Month certificate to Michael Day 

JULY 2024 EMPLOYER OF THE MONTH

Wates 

Paul Quinnell – Senior Project Manager for Wates Construction has the following comments to make about our Apprentice of the month Michael Day

“Michael has continued to flourish during his placement at Southampton University Jubilee Leisure Centre and has established himself as a key member of the Wates Site Management Team. He has a great work ethic, always willing to learn and seek advice from his peers and what has most impressed me is his willingness to put himself into difficult situations like chairing the supply chain supervisor meetings and holding others to account and keeping order as we seek to plan and collaborate on the next day’s events. It is fully deserving that Michael has earnt himself a place on the next cohort of Wates Operational Trainees and I am excited to watch Michael continue to develop his career with Wates.”

JULY 2024 TRAINING PROVIDER OF THE MONTH

Croydon College

Michael Day our apprentice of the month is attending Croydon College.

Croydon College’s comments below:

“We are flattered that Croydon College has been selected for recognition in your upcoming newsletter and social media. The communication and collaboration between our teams have been exemplary, and we are delighted to have this opportunity to acknowledge our successful partnership.

We are really proud of the results attained with our apprentices, consistently achieving 100% pass rates, often completing their programmes earlier than expected. This success is a testament to the dedication and support provided by the Croydon team, who are always open to discussion and proactive in providing the information and support that our apprentices and we, as an employer, greatly need.”

AUGUST 2024 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH

George Woodroofe

Southern Industrial Roofing said "It’s been such pleasure to have found an apprentice like George. He turns up to work every day wanting to learn. He is just that little bit older and has previously worked for McDonalds so understands the sort of commitment and attitude we are looking for! His work ethic is fantastic and thoroughly deserves this award."

AUGUST 2024 EMPLOYER OF THE MONTH

Southern Industrial Roofing

Helen Banning, CoTrain's Apprenticeship Manager, recently met with Southern Industrial Roofing, who shared that... We use CoTrain because they take away all the hassle out of finding young apprentices. They support and manage the apprentices for us right from the start, which in turn saves us so much time and effort!

AUGUST 2024 TRAINING PROVIDER OF THE MONTH

Juniper Training

Juniper training receiving the "Training Provider of the Month" award has been a significant milestone for Juniper. This recognition has bolstered their reputation in the training sector, particularly in the roofing industry, and strengthened their relationships with partners.

Juniper plans to leverage this accolade to expand their network of employer partners, attracting even more apprentices and employers who seek top-tier training. This award will serve as a powerful promotional tool, highlighting Juniper’s leadership in delivering relevant, impactful apprenticeship programs 

SEPTEMBER 2024 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH

Philip Blackman

We're thrilled to announce our Apprentice of the Month, Philip Blackman!  CoTrain is so pleased for Philip, who shared, "I've thoroughly enjoyed my time as a CoTrain Apprentice at Wates. With the support from CoTrain and my colleagues, I've gained invaluable hands-on experience and learned so much over the past year." 

SEPTEMBER 2024 EMPLOYER OF THE MONTH

Galliford Try

Congratulations to Galliford Try on being named Host of the Month! Sarah Hall, our Apprentice Manager, spoke with Heather Bryant at Galliford Try, who was thrilled by the recognition and shared, "Galliford Try Building Southern is once again partnering with CoTrain to host five technical apprentice placements—marking our 8th year! Each year, we make a two-year commitment to our new apprentices, offering exciting projects to kickstart their construction careers, all with the support of CoTrain. This program has been a real success for us, and we're all incredibly proud of it." 

SEPTEMBER 2024 TRAINING PROVIDER OF THE MONTH

Skills4Stem

We’re excited to announce that our Training Provider of the Month for September is Skills4Stem!! Congratulations Skills4Stem.Sarah Hall, our Apprentice Manager, recently spoke with Skills4Stem, who are thrilled to be named Training Provider of the Month. They shared, "We are honoured to receive this award and it’s a pleasure working with CoTrain. Our mission has always been to transform adult education, and we’re proud to have CoTrain as part of this journey. We look forward to training many more apprentices from CoTrain in the future." 

OCTOBER 2024 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH

Danusha Gunawardena

We’re thrilled to recognize Danusha as CoTrain's November Apprentice of the Month! Danusha shared, "I am so happy to be recognized as CoTrain’s Apprentice of the Month. I’m really grateful for all the support I receive from CoTrain, Wates, and Croydon College. It means so much – thank you all!"

The team at Wates expressed their pride in Danusha’s journey, saying, "I am so proud of what Danusha has achieved over the past two years. Watching her progress and grow in confidence, all while juggling family responsibilities, working away from home, and studying at college one day a week, is truly remarkable."

OCTOBER 2024 EMPLOYER OF THE MONTH

Wates

Congratulations to Wates Group for being named CoTrain Host of the Month for October! 

Wates is thrilled to receive this recognition, and it’s even more exciting to celebrate alongside the fantastic news that Danusha Gunwardena has been awarded CoTrain's Apprentice of the Month! This recognition is so well deserved. Danusha is an incredibly valued member of the WDS team, always capable and ready to tackle any task with skill and dedication.

OCTOBER 2024 TRAINING PROVIDER OF THE MONTH

Croydon College

Huge congratulations to Croydon College for being named CoTriain's Training Provider of the Month for October! ?

The team at Croydon College shared, "We were thrilled to meet with CoTrain this morning and are incredibly honoured to be named their Training Provider of the Month! It’s a privilege to work with such a supportive and engaged employer. Supporting apprentices like Danusha, who exemplifies dedication on her training journey, has been an absolute pleasure."

Thank you to Gail McCay and the Apprenticeship Team at Croydon College for their outstanding commitment to empowering future talent. ?

NOVEMBER 2024 APPRENTICE OF THE MONTH

Brandon

 

Brandon has shown incredible dedication, enthusiasm, and a passion for learning during his bricklaying apprenticeship. Here's what he had to say about his experience:

"I am really enjoying every minute of my bricklaying apprenticeship. I am learning so many new skills from everyone at Broadwin and look forward to coming onto site every day. I am so grateful for the support I have received from everyone involved in my apprenticeship since day one. Thank you to everyone at Broadwin, CoTrain, and Eastleigh College!"

It’s inspiring to see Brandon's hard work and positive attitude making such an impact. We're proud to support his journey and look forward to seeing him continue to grow and excel in his career.

NOVEMBER 2024 EMPLOYER OF THE MONTH

Brandon

CoTrain are thrilled to announce that Broadwin Construction has been named Host of the Month for November!

As proud hosts of Brandon, our Apprentice of the Month, we are delighted to see his growth and progress. Brandon has been an incredible addition to the Broadwin Construction team. His exceptional work ethic and desire to learn have made him an invaluable member of our crew.

During his time with us, Brandon has faced a variety of on-site scenarios, each enhancing his practical skills and being further reinforced by the knowledge he’s gaining at college. In just a few months, we’ve already seen remarkable improvements in his abilities, and we’re confident he will continue to grow into a fantastic bricklayer.

We’d also like to extend our gratitude to CoTrain for ensuring such a seamless integration of Brandon into our team and for their unwavering support throughout his apprenticeship.

At Broadwin, they're committed to nurturing the next generation of skilled tradespeople, and we’re proud to see Brandon thriving in this supportive environment.

NOVEMBER 2024 TRAINING PROVIDER OF THE MONTH

Southern Hampshire College Group

A huge shout out to Eastleigh College for being named Training Provider of the Month for November!

We are proud to partner with Eastleigh College (part of South Hampshire College Group) on Brandon’s journey as an apprentice bricklayer. Brandon, who was also named Apprentice of the Month, has had an outstanding start to the academic year. His motivation, eagerness to learn, and commitment to developing his skills make him a shining example of a future professional in the construction industry.

The college has played a key role in supporting Brandon’s growth, ensuring he gains the knowledge, skills, and behaviours needed to become an exceptional bricklayer. His tutor, Jon Smith, shared: “Brandon is such a polite apprentice and a pleasure to teach, especially in the workshop.”

A special thanks to CoTrain for making the enrolment process seamless and continuing to support Brandon’s progress.

We are excited to see what Brandon can accomplish next, and we’re confident that with the backing of Eastleigh College and CoTrain, he’ll achieve great things!