DSG follows a long established tradition in the MOD of turning out apprentices of the very highest calibre and despite the financial constraints, DSG remains committed to its apprenticeship scheme.

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

Colonel David Swann, Commander of the Armour Centre in Bovington attended the event and talked of the importance of DSG in supporting the Armour Centre training fleet and the integral and efficient support by DSG staff. He added that this included recently graduating apprentices who are all supporting critical equipment alongside the troops in combat operations in Afghanistan.

Daniel Poole from Dorchester was the popular choice for the coveted Apprentice of the Year title.  The ceremony also paid tribute to the pivotal role of the Apprentice Masters, with Trevor Fancy from Weymouth receiving an award for Apprentice Master of the Year, an award nominated by the apprentices.

Praising the graduating apprentices and apprentice masters for their commitment and hard work, Archie Hughes, DSG's Chief Executive says, "We have shown we can excel in providing students of every age and background with an apprenticeship that is the envy of industry. Our engineers and technicians are highly regarded and a DSG apprenticeship is one to be prized."

Two Bovington apprentices are attending the prestigious MOD Awards Ceremony in London in December.  Dr Liam Fox, Secretary of State for Defence will present awards to James Braithwaite from Weymouth, runner up in the Tom Nevard machining phase 1 section to fellow apprentice Ben Camfield from Poole who won the award.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

1.      Picture shows Archie Hughes with the 2010 apprentice graduates. Higher resolution image available upon request.  A list of graduating apprentice prize winners is attached to this release.

2.      DSG launched on 1 April 2008 as a new MOD Trading Fund with the primary focus of 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 3300 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 as well as established in support of operations in Afghanistan at Camp Bastion.

5.      For further information about DSG or to arrange an interview, please contact the DSG press office:

Allan Robertson
Office hours: 01446 784007

Out of hours: 07710 789853

Venus Tingzon

Office hours: 01264 383217

Out of hours: 07879 481018

Visit: www.dsg.mod.uk

Ref: 05/10

DSG Bovington Apprentice Award Winners 2009/2010

Graduating Apprentices

          Internal Apprentice

          Daniel Poole                           

          Stephen Booth                        

          Christopher Chaffey                 

          Ian Puncher                 

          External Apprentices   

          Christian Downs                      

          Laurie Greenslade           

          Calum Roberton              

          John Burt                                   

          John Mentern                       

          Joshua Shepherd                    

DSG Bovington recruit apprentices both internally, from within the workforce and externally

Overall Apprentice of the Year

Daniel Poole

Phase 3 Apprentice of the Year 

Daniel Poole                       Internal Apprentice

John Mentern                      External Apprentice

Phase 2 Apprentice of the Year

            Chris Penny                         Internal Apprentice   

            James Hanmer                    External Apprentice   

Phase1 Apprentice of the Year

            Ben Camfield                       External Apprentice   

UNITE Award to Most Improved Apprentice      

            John Burt

Apprentice Master of the Year  

            Trevor Fancy   

Highly Commended Apprentice Masters

Nick Dominy, Keith Avant,  Kyle Barnett,  Stewart Polley, John Shanes,   Richard Dunning, Pete Hubbard 

Presented with Higher Level Qualification Level 4 Certificate in Advanced Automotive Diagnostics

            Keith Avant,  Stuart Richardson, Ryan Gibson, Peter Waite, John Mentern,

            Christian Downs, Calum Roberton, Laurie Greenslade, Daniel Poole.