Business Awards 2021: Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year finalists

Gabrielle Lloyd of Carnaud Metalbox

Gabrielle admits she wasn’t always sure what she wanted to do when she was older, but after developing an interest in product design at school, and joining Carnaud Metalbox she hasn’t looked back.

The firm designs, develops and and manufactures high-performance metal forming and finishing machinery for the production of beverage, food and aerosol cans.

She describes it taking about seven weeks per build with different problems to solve, meaning the work is interesting every single day.

She adds that a counterbalance lifting jig she designed through college is being manufactured by CMB.

James Pool of Solenis

“James is brilliant, he’s always highly motivated and is always looking at ways he can solve problems on our plants”.

An apprentice at chemical solutions firm Solenis, James is also described as helping to support other younger apprentices and develop the firm’s apprenticeship programme.

He works in a department which makes intermediate products, so has the responsibility of making sure the other plants keep running by supplying them.

He adds: Before I started this apprenticeship, I didn’t know what manufacturing was. This proves it’s an actual career path that people our age can go down.”

Sam Duffy of Solenis

As a warehousing operative apprentice it is Sam’s job to ensure the smooth running of Solenis’ production areas by keeping them supplied with the raw materials they need.

And it is for this dedication that he has been put forward for the reward.

Sam says: “The training I’ve received has been second to none. I feel part of a team. If everything goes well on site, everyone’s happy. If things go wrong, things need to change.”

He described it as a “great honour” to be shortlisted for the award, adding that he hoped to stay at chemical solutions firm Solenis for the rest of his career.