A TALENTED young apprentice from Bolton has won a prestigious national award.

Ryan Anderson, aged 19, who works for Siemens Digital Factory, came up trumps after taking gold in the Outstanding First Year Apprentice Award, sponsored by Siemens.

The EEF Future Manufacturing Awards recognises the outstanding contribution being made by apprentices across the UK. The award is highly respected and hotly contested with winners selected by a panel of judges drawn from business leaders, industry experts and academics.

Ryan beat off competition from across the UK and won the title after impressing judges with his humour and drive to succeed. They said that Ryan is a very passionate apprentice with extremely clear short, medium and long term goals and knows how to achieve them.

Judges said they had been overwhelmed by the high calibre of apprentices nominated this year.

A fellow Bolton apprentice, Helen Wood, aged 19, who works for MBDA, was named runner up for the first year Business Apprentice Award.

Ryan Anderson, apprentice at Siemens Digital Factory, said: “This is a massive honour – I can’t believe I’ve won. It’s been a fantastic way to end my first year.

“My apprenticeship has taught me valuable life and career skills, but winning this award tops it all. I know other young people and parents may be weighing up the benefits of an apprenticeship – all I can say is that it offers great opportunities and I hope my success demonstrates this.”