AWARDS are coming thick and fast for apprentices at Bolton-based missile maker MBDA.

Twenty-one-year-old Beki Davies was the winner in the year of Apprentice Category at the Manufacturer’s Awards in Birmingham.

The former Westhoughton High School pupil, who went on to complete, ONC, HNC and HND qualifications in electronic engineering, said: “I am over the moon. I am very proud of my achievement and I feel it is a great accolade for both myself and MBDA.

“It’s also fantastic to be recognised for the hard work and dedication to both my technical training and development as young engineer, as well as an ambassador for apprenticeships and women in engineering.

“I finished my apprenticeship in September and what a great way for it to come to and end.”

In addition to Ms Davies’s success, 22-year-old Jade Aspinall – currently in her fourth year of an advanced engineering apprenticeship with Lostock-based MBDA – has been named the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Apprentice of the Year.

“I’ve worked by hard over the last three years of my apprenticeship and it a great feeling to be recognised and rewarded for the work I have done,” said Jade.who has also completed an HND in electronic engineering and Wigan and Leigh College and is currently studying for an HND in mechanical engineering.

Recently, another MBDA apprentice Anna Schlautmann, aged 22, won the Advanced Apprentice of the Year at the National Apprentice Awards, beating off stiff competition from 27 other entrants across a diverse range of industries.

“I am very proud and thrilled to have won the award,” said Ms Schlautmann. “I am passionate about apprenticeships and promoting females within manufacturing, so getting this recognition personally means a great deal to me.”

Meanwhile, MBDA HR manager Debbie Cole and training supremo Gareth Humphreys received the Best Large Employer Award on behalf of the company at the ceremony in Birmingham.