Highways Maintenance Manager Gareth Richards and Highways Operative Michael Davies receive their awards from Mayor of Caerphilly county borough Cllr Michael Gray
A young council Highways employee is on the road to success after picking up a prestigious national award.
Caerphilly County Borough Council Highways Operative Michael Davies, 23, has recently been awarded the Apprentice of the Year award by the Association for Public Service Excellence (APSE).
The aim of the APSE awards is not only to give recognition to future tradespersons, but also to councils who continue to invest in the workforce of the future.
Michael joined the Highways team as an apprentice in 2011, and went on to undertake an NVQ and Diploma in Highways Maintenance through a combination of onsite training and studies at the National Construction College in Birmingham. Following the completion of his apprenticeship, Michael was successful in securing a permanent job with the council as a Highways operative.
Michael’s award was not the only APSE award win for Caerphilly County Borough Council, with the authority also scooping the Excellence in Training Standards award. The Council’s Highways department was recognised as providing ‘outstanding training opportunities’ through its Highways apprentice scheme.
Cllr Tom Williams, Caerphilly County Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways, Transportation & Engineering, said: “I’m delighted that the Highways team has received this honour for the high quality of its apprenticeship scheme, and Michael is a shining example of what our apprentices can achieve after passing through these training schemes. Congratulations to Michael and the whole of the Highways team on these awards.”
