Josh Garguilo joined SSTL (Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd) (www.sstl.co.uk) as an Apprentice Lab Technician in 2014; last month, he was presented with the IET’s (Institution of Engineering and Technology) Retired Members Section (RMS) Student Excellence 2018 Award (along with a cash prize of £100 from the local IET network).

During his apprenticeship, Mr Garguilo completed two years of additional study at BTEC Level 3 in electrical and electronic engineering, and he has continued his studies up to HNC level (alongside a Level 4 NVQ).

He has worked on a number of spacecraft at SSTL — recently the Eutelsat Quantum satellite.

Peter Bennison, RMS chairman in the IET’s Solent region (www.theiet.org), said: “Josh had a superb recommendation, and I’m sure he will enjoy the fruits of his labour.

“He has attained very high academic results, and he has a fantastic attitude.”

Mr Garguilo, who studied for his HNC at Highbury College in Portsmouth, said: “I knew I didn’t want to go to university, and there’s not as much onus on exams with apprenticeships.

“I found that coursework-based assessments and less-formal exams are far easier to manage.

“Taking this apprenticeship is one of the best things I’ve ever done, and I couldn’t imagine having progressed my career any other way.”