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Celebrating the apprentice skills that have kept the Armed Forces' armoured vehicles at peak performance at the Defence Support Group's Bovington and Warminster workshops were the latest graduates.

DSG's long standing apprenticeship scheme is renowned for turning out the next generation of highly skilled engineers and mechanics.

Graduating at a prize-giving event held at the Bovington Tank Museum recently (26 November) were 13 apprentices from the Defence Support Group's Bovington and Warminster workshops who were praised for their hard work and commitment by DSG's Chief Operating Officer, John Reilly.

The graduating apprentices completed a three-year training package as mechanical and vehicle electrical apprentices during which they have worked on the Army's fleet of armoured vehicles.

Colonel David Swann Commander Headquarters of the Armour Centre in Bovington attended the event and made reference to the importance of DSG and the hard work put in by DSG's employees in supporting his training fleet of vehicle which impacts directly onto the success of Armour Centre's training programme.

Commenting on the importance of apprenticeships to DSG, John Reilly concluded, "Your role in helping to equip our Armed Forces should never be underestimated. Two DSG Bovington graduating apprentices are currently supporting front line troops in theatre which highlights the level of skills you have learnt during the apprentice scheme."

Ends

Notes to Editors:

1. Picture shows John Reilly with all the apprentices who attended the awards ceremony. A list of apprentice prize winners is attached to this release.

2. DSG launched on 1 April 2008 and brought together the ABRO and DARA businesses into a single new defence Trading Fund.  DSG's primary focus is in providing expert in-house maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services for the through life support of the key land and air based platforms and equipment of the UK Armed Forces.

3. It draws together many unique capabilities that have been developed over several decades for the direct benefit of troops and their equipment at both home and abroad. DSG turnover is in excess of £200m, with a workforce of around 3800 strategically located throughout the UK.

4. DSG's Head Office is located in Andover and provides strategic direction to the main sites in Bovington, Catterick, Colchester, Donnington, Sealand, St Athan, Stafford, Stirling, Telford and Warminster. Smaller support sites located in Aldershot, Bicester, Kinnegar and Sennybridge further enhances DSG's geographic coverage. Small support teams are also permanently embedded in other UK military sites.

5. For further information about DSG, contact Allan Robertson, in the DSG press office:
Office hours: 01446 755202
Out of hours: 07710 789853

Visit: www.dsg.mod.uk

Ref: 07/09

DSG BOVINGTON AND WARMINSTER APPRENTICE AWARDS EVENING 2009

DSG Bovington
Phase One	External	Winner	Ian Baker	Dorchester
	Internal	Winner	Paul Norman	Wareham
Phase Two	External	Winner	Laurie Greenslade	Poole
	Internal	Winner	Stephen Booth	Bournemouth
Phase Three	External	Winner	Ryan Gibson	Bovington
	Internal	Winner	Peter Waite	Bournemouth
DSG Bovington recruit apprentices both internally, from within the workforce and externally
DSG Warminster
Phase One		Winner	Paul Johnson	Chippenham
Phase Two		Winner	Michael Telfer	Warminster
Phase Three		Winner	Ben Courage	Rode
DSG Bovington
Apprentice Master of the Year			Bob Hopkins	Dorchester
DSG Warminster
Apprentice Master of the Year			Richard Woodham	Warminster
Bovington Apprentice
Showing Most Improvement (Unite award)			Ian Puncher	Dorchester
Warminster Apprentice
Showing Most Improvement			Mike Lonsdale-Smith	Westbury
DSG Bovington Apprentice of the Year			Stephen Booth	Bournemouth
DSG Warminster Apprentice of the Year			Mike Lonsdale Smith	Westbury