Young Apprentice of the Year Award

Alex Morley, 16, is on the road to his dream of becoming a fully qualified mechanic.

“I have always wanted to be a mechanic, so much so that when I had the chance to join Paragon and ITE Training Group as a Young Apprentice, I missed my school sports day to come in and be assessed.” This dedication has been sustained throughout his time as a Young Apprentice, even coming in on crutches at one point in order not to miss anything. 

Alex’s training at Paragon and ITE Training meant that he was well prepared when he started to work at Pentagon Mercedes in Fareham.

“As the course went on, I began to see that what I was being taught could be used at the garage and I became more confident and able to solve the problems I was faced with. Each time I work at the garage there are new challenges, but my supervisor is always on hand to suggest possible solutions and we work together to get the vehicles back on the road.”

The Young Apprenticeship programme has also helped Alex feel more responsible. “I am treated like an adult at the garage and so I have to be very sensible as the people I work with must be able to trust me to do a good job.”

His friends have also experienced the benefits of Alex’s Young Apprenticeship, as he helps fix their cars in his free time.

Alex cites his greatest achievement as receiving the Class Achievement Award at Paragon and ITE Training, and wishes to use his Young Apprenticeship as a springboard: “I hope that Mercedes will take me on full time when I finish this course, as I then want to go on to be an Advanced Apprentice and to one day start my own business so that I can take on Apprentices myself.”

John Underdown, Paragon and ITE Training Group commented: “Everyone agrees that Alex will one day be a top mechanic. Alex’s manager was so impressed with him since working at the garage that it has changed his opinion of teenagers completely.”

Alex has been short-listed for the Young Apprentice category in the national Apprenticeship Awards 2006.