Warrington apprentice meets the Prime Minister

AN apprentice from Warrington was today having a a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go behind the doors of No 10 Downing Street to meet the Prime Minister.
Mechanical design apprentice Philip Marwood who works at the Sellafield Ltd  Design Engineering offices at Birchwood, is “over the moon” to have been hand-picked to meet David Cameron to discuss what it means to be an apprentice and debate how the Government, apprentices and businesses can do more to promote apprenticeships.
As an “outstanding apprentice”, he was selected to represent the company – which has been leading the apprenticeship reforms for the nuclear industry – at the apprentice celebration event.
The 22-year-old who lives in Fearnhead said: “It’s such an honour to be invited to No 10 to talk to David Cameron about my experiences as an apprentice and how together we can inspire young people to see apprenticeships as a great route to their future career.
“I’m really excited to meet the Prime Minister and to feel the atmosphere inside No 10. I’ve walked past Downing Street many times and never would I have expected anything like this to happen to me!”
Philip didn’t take a conventional route into his apprenticeship, working in various jobs before finding his calling on the Sellafield Ltd mechanical design apprenticeship in 2014.
He said: “My apprenticeship has been the best start on the career ladder I could have wished for. I have gained skills, knowledge and confidence that I would never have got at university and that’s why I am so passionate about promoting apprenticeships.”
Philip is to be accompanied by Sellafield Ltd training manager Steve Bewsher who will take the opportunity to inform the Prime Minister that the company will welcome 165 more apprentices in September – taking the number in training past 500.
Steve said: “We chose Philip to meet the Prime Minister because he is extremely motivated and proactive in his apprenticeship. Because he’s a little bit older than the other mechanical design apprentices he has taken on a big brother role, taking them under his wing and giving them advice if they have any problems.”
Warrington South MP David Mowat congratulated Philip for being chosen to represent apprentices across the North West.
He said: “The reception will provide him with a great opportunity to meet other organisations who are active in apprentice recruitment, explain the first class training he is receiving and the career path available.”