PRINT Scotland has honoured five young apprentices in its fifth annual Scottish Print Apprentice of the Year Awards.
The trade association for the graphic communication industry revealed that the 2020 Awards were unable to held as an occasion due to Covid-19 restrictions, but certificates were presented to the winners by their managers and mentors.
The winners of the 2020 Apprentice of the Year Awards were:
- Overall Apprentice of Year – Marcus Urquhart, Ivanhoe Caledonian (Musselburgh)
- Level 3 Pre Press – Bradley Melvin, JJR Print (Dumbarton)
- Level 3 Post Press – Scott McNee, Bell & Bain (Glasgow)
- Level 3 Print Administration – Elizabeth Paul, Bell & Bain (Glasgow)
- Level 3 Press – Russell Williamson, Alba Print (Dumfries)
Garry Richmond, director of Print Scotland said, “Scotland’s print businesses have played a critical role in fighting and overcoming the Covid-19 pandemic. As essential workers, they have been at the forefront. Given that role, it is more important than ever that the industry needs to employ more apprentices to sustain Scotland’s print sector and the need to encourage more apprentices from an increasingly diverse range of backgrounds.
“These awards recognise outstanding achievement amongst the young people who represent the next generation of our leaders of Scotland’s print sector.”
Print Scotland president Iain Robertson commented, “Despite these highly unusual circumstances, we continue to celebrate the achievements of our young colleagues in acquiring future-proof skills to take Scotland’s print industry forward.
“Our members have demonstrated throughout the Covid-19 lockdown that print is an essential element in a civilised society. That in itself tells us that the print industry in Scotland has a real future across a range of skillsets and needs a constant flow of high-quality and motivated apprentices in even greater numbers, and from an increasingly diverse range of backgrounds, to fulfil its potential.”
The awards were sponsored by Muller Martini, whose sales manager David McGinlay said, “Muller Martini is always happy to support training, especially apprentice training. It’s in our DNA to train and bring new blood into our industry. I have a personal interest in the Print Scotland Apprenticeship scheme, as I am a product of a Print Finishing Apprenticeship. It stood me in good stead throughout my career. We look forward to continuing our support for this valuable scheme in the future.”
