Trakrap apprentice wins top award

An apprentice working with Skelmersdale-based TrakRap has been named Engineering Apprentice of the Year at the Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies Alliance Skills Awards 2018.

Daniel Blake, 24, joined the packaging specialist in 2012 as an apprentice engineer in 2012 before working his way up to the role of mechanical assembly engineer. He is currently undertaking a Level 4 Higher National Diploma in mechanical engineering.

Daniel was nominated for the award by Alliance Learning, his apprenticeship learning provider, and beat thousands of apprentices from the GTA’s various learning partners across the UK to make the shortlist.

Daniel impressed the judges with his work on a wide range of assembly and research projects, his role as Health & Safety leader at TrakRap and his involvement with the Lancashire Apprenticeship Ambassadors Network, which promotes apprenticeships to young adults.

David Robinson, TrakRap’s operations director, said: “We’re over the moon for Danny, who thoroughly deserves his award. His drive, determination and natural ability have never been in question, so we’re thrilled his efforts have been recognised by the wider engineering and apprenticeships communities.

“We’re firm believers in the importance of apprenticeships as an effective way of ensuring the manufacturing industry continues to flourish in future and, with Danny setting the standard for other apprentices to aspire to, we’re confident that that will be the case.” TrakRap is a UK designer and producer of sustainable secondary packaging solutions for FMCG manufacturers and manufactures its own stretch wrapping machinery.