Article summary: A former PETA ‘Rising Star’ award winner has now also been recognised by the national organisation for his inspiring story.
Scott Burgess, who is on the CMI Level 5 Diploma in Leadership and Management apprenticeship, has won the GTA Apprentice of the Year award in the Business Services category.
Scott started his most recent apprenticeship in 2020 and was awarded Rising Star of the Year at PETA’s 2022 Apprentice of the Year Awards. He currently works as operations manager at Runfold Plastics, the same company where he started as an engineering apprentice in 2015.
Scott said: “I cover all day-to-day operations throughout a manufacturing company, looking after 45 employees from anything from HR to finance to production.
“My apprenticeships all the way through have changed my life because of the thought processes it puts in. Engineering helped me take a step back whether in work or in my personal life, and management has helped me take 3 steps back when I look at everything I do, it’s been inspiring.”
Scott said he feels over the moon to be recognised and never expected to win.
He said: “I would like to thank PETA and Runfold Plastics and especially Charlie Avens, Philip Mirner and Paul Lammas for making this possible, you have all been there throughout both of my apprenticeships and my learning journey to support me and help guide me to where I am today.
“Apprenticeships have changed my life. It’s taken me from the boy who was thrown out of school to a man that is a senior manager within the organization I work in with multiple qualifications. I believe the apprenticeship scheme can work for anyone if you are willing to work for it. I for one will always support and be in debt to what apprenticeships offer to people of all ages and abilities.”
Scott has overcome incredible adversity to be where he is today and shows no signs of slowing down, he said he wants to continue building his skills and keep progressing in his role to eventually reach a directorship position in the organisation that he’s worked in for the past 17 years.
Also representing PETA as a finalist at the black-tie event was Kairon Robb, Level 3 Machinist apprentice at Lewmar Marine. Kairon has also been recognised at PETA’s Apprentice of the Year Awards, winning the Best in Engineering award at the 2022 event.
Kairon said: “My experience as an apprentice has really given me a path. I didn’t know what I wanted to do before I started my apprenticeship, and it made me think that I can do this for the rest of my life and give it everything I have.”
