Birkenhead’s Engineering College is celebrating the region’s young talent after unveiling a series of top awards for outstanding performances in 2017 at its award ceremony last month.

A big winner on the night was Jennifer Corkill, from Stadler, who secured two awards — The Engineering College Development Stage Apprentice and The ‘Ian Yates’ contribution to Engineering Award for her outstanding progression.

Michael Dodd, of Teledyne CML, received The Jim Teasdale Apprentice of the Year award. It came just weeks after being named as a ‘runner up’ in the national Composites UK 2017 Industry Awards (www.theengineeringcollege.co.uk).

Meanwhile, the TWI Welder of the Year award was handed to Thomas Jones, from Cammell Laird, with the ECITB Apprentice of the Year award presented to Kurtis Kearns, of Studley Engineering.

Headline sponsors included Cammell Laird, ECITB (Engineering Construction Industry Training Board) and The Welding Institute (TWI) and the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.

Engineering College CEO Terry Weston said: “The college has seen an exceptional intake of young engineers and strong progression with existing students this year.

“We hope the timing of our awards also resonates with industry as the national programme known as ‘Tomorrow’s Engineers Week’ gathers pace.

"We are highly supportive of this industry-led campaign. It involves more than 300 employers and professional bodies from across the engineering community joining universities, schools and individuals in a week-long drive to inspire the next generation of engineers.

"This work is essential to plugging the major skills gap which not only exists within or Liverpool City Region but the broader engineering sector across the entire UK.”

Special appearances were made by Tranmere Rovers FC Chairman Mark Palios, Cammell Laird Operations Director Mike Hill and Engineering College director Jim Teasdale who handed out awards.

Since setting up almost two decades ago in 1998, the Engineering College has driven turnover to £1.7 million employing 38 staff and is currently training 330 apprentices.

The college benefit from a strong track record currently working with 70 clients including large private businesses like Cammell Laird, Balfour Beatty and Clarke Energy to SMEs including Sovex and Laker Vent.