A TALENTED apprentice from Winsford has won this year’s regional Outstanding First Year Apprentice of the Year Award – and is now in the running for the national title.

Matt Neal, 19, won the accolade at the EEF/Aldermore Future Manufacturing Awards, where he was up against a large number of apprentices from blue chip engineering companies such as Rolls Royce and Airbus.

Matt, who works for linear motion manufacturer HepcoMotion, based in Tiverton, impressed the judges with his commitment, ambition and drive to pursue a career in manufacturing.

He received the award last week at At-Bristol, a leading UK science centre and education charity.

Now he is in the running for the national title. He will be going head-to-head with other regional winners from across the UK and will be judged on a presentation he will give in London.

“It’s a great feeling to be recognised in this way for doing something I genuinely enjoy and that is setting me up for life,” said Matt.

“I’m only at the very start of my career in manufacturing and already it is proving both rewarding and challenging in equal measure.”

HepcoMotion’s engineering training manager Bob Gregory said: “We are delighted by Matt’s achievement.

“As a company we are fully committed to apprenticeships. It not only makes sound business sense but also gives us a real buzz to see our young engineers developing and succeeding.”

The national winner will be announced at a gala dinner on January 27 at the Grand Connaught Rooms in London.

HepcoMotion manufactures bearings and linear systems and has branches and distributors in 41 countries. It provides extensive application support through a global network of qualified, factory trained engineers backed up by a substantial manufacturing capability.