Stafford-based Alstom apprentice welder scoops top award for Midlands region

Dale McCombe, an Alstom apprentice welder based in the companys Stafford Welding School, has been named ECITB Midlands Apprentice of the Year.

Dale, 20, won the award from the Engineering Construction Industry Training Board for a number of his recent performances, including reaching the national SkillWeld final last year, achieving a 0% defect rate on his welds at a major project at Cottam Power Station and his commitment to health and safety.

Jim McIlwrath, Manager of Welding and Nuclear Services at Alstom, said: Dales a great lad and a credit to the apprenticeship scheme and to Alstom. His welding skills are starting to show, especially during his performance in the regional heats and at the final of SkillWeld. He really has proven himself to be a dedicated and top member of the welding team, with a positive outlook and a real commitment to safety.

Dale, originally from Leasowe on the Wirral, recently achieved his Advanced Level Apprenticeship in Welding and is currently being deployed to support welding activities on major outage contracts for Alstom Power across the country.

This was the third year in a row that an Alstom apprentice has scooped the title of ECITB Midlands Apprentice of the Year.

Also honoured on the night was Kevin Benson, Competency and Funding Manager for Alstom, who was highly commended in the Leadership in Learning category.

Dale now goes on to compete for the ECITB National Apprentice of the Year award later this month.

 
About Alstom
Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world, provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 86,000 people in around 100 countries. It had sales of 20 billion and booked close to 24 billion in orders in 2012/13.

Press contact
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