Young manufacturer of the year
Jonathan Pearson (aged 22) - Deputy Team Leader, Schwan's Consumer Brands UK, Leyland, Lancashire
Already the Learning and Skills Council’s 2007 Apprentice of the Year, Jonathon has now been voted Young Manufacturer of the Year in The Manufacturing Institute’s 2007 Business Awards.
He joined the frozen food company on summer placement and liked it so much that he dropped plans to study sport at college. After a spell in engineering he transferred to the bakery department where he began a modern apprenticeship in 2005 - and within six months became the company’s youngest ever deputy team leader.
He said: “I’d encourage any young person to consider manufacturing as a career. It offers so many opportunities to acquire skills and take on different and ever more challenging roles – and the rewards for hard work are equally good.”
After gaining A levels in maths, physics and art, Matt Moseley decided he wanted something more ‘hands on’ than a university course. He was offered an apprenticeship at Fullcolour after completing a two-week work trial – when he devised a more effective way of cutting business cards. As a print finisher Matt is involved in a variety of processes that require him to be extremely versatile with good attention to detail.
Michelle joined the company as a temp but was quickly promoted to purchasing assistant and then to her current position. Her boss describes her role as crucial to the smooth operation of ColorMatrix, where she works with both the commercial and manufacturing teams to ensure that there are always plentiful supplies of raw materials to make the company’s wide range of products.