Joe's manufactured two top prizes

23/11/2011

Joe, right, picks up his Young Manufacturer of the Year award

Former Central Sussex College student Joe Miller has recently picked up two top industry honours, following nominations by his employer, Drallim Industries.

Joe, 23, was recognised for 'outstanding achievement' at the EEF Future Manufacturing Awards and has also been named 'Young Manufacturer of the Year', a prize sponsored by Epicor software and awarded by The Manufacturer magazine.

EEF is an organisation which drives the manufacturing industry, and its annual awards give companies within the sector the chance to showcase their talent and celebrate their achievements. Following his success at the EEF event in Surrey, Joe said he was surprised but honoured to receive the award for 'Outstanding achievement by a final year apprentice' after his company, based in St Leonards-on-Sea, entered him for the awards.

After a gruelling interview process, Joe beat five other apprentices shortlisted from the South East region and will now be put forward for the national awards to be held in December.

Following on from this success, Joe was named Young Manufacturer of the Year at a prestigious black tie event held at Lancashire's County Cricket Club. "Initially, when they called out my name, I was just in shock," said Joe. Asked how he thought he had impressed the judges, he said: "I think I impressed them with the diversity of products I work on for my age. I believe the judges also recognised my personal development from starting with the company as a young apprentice to now managing projects and teams in a middle management position."

Glenn Moore, Course Coordinator for Technology at Central Sussex College, said: "As Joe's course coordinator, it gives me enormous pleasure to congratulate him on his outstanding achievement. I taught Joe for six of his subjects and saw him increase in confidence during the three years he studied HNC/HND. I am sure the skills he developed during his course, combined with his apprenticeship, will enable him to make a major contribution to the industry."

Joe said of his training at Central Sussex College; "The HNC/D not only taught me about many different aspects of engineering and their application within my own company, but most of all it gave me the confidence to grow as an individual. When I started the course, I didn't think I would last more than a year!"

Dave Mooney, Managing Director of Drallim Industries added; "We're all tremendously proud of how well Joe has done up against so much competition from significantly larger organisations. He is a real credit to Drallim."