31 August 2007

Dear Colleagues,

It’s good to be the best! In Translink we have some of the very best apprentices who develop into the very best engineers. This year 14 new apprentices will join us.

Two apprentices who joined us in 2005 - Clare Jameson and Neil McCluskey - have been short listed for Apprentice of the Year in the UK wide ‘GoSkills Passenger Transport Awards 2007’ - Rail Engineering category.

They have been invited to attend an awards evening in November at Chelsea Football Club, London, when the winner will be announced.

Congratulations to Clare and Neil - and to Paul Magill and Peter McGarry who were also nominated.

I will also mention one of our fitters - William Scott from Coleraine bus garage - who will soon be attending an awards ceremony at the South Eastern Regional College, Lisburn Campus, for his outstanding results after completing a BTEC National Certificate in Vehicle Repair and Technology.

William completed his time as an apprentice last September and was also awarded Apprentice of the Year 2004 - he also went to England to compete in the UK finals for apprentice of the year, to have been entered for this is an achievement in itself!

William’s BTEC National is in addition to what is required for an apprentice to achieve. We give fourth year fitter and electrician apprentices, who want to develop, the opportunity to complete a BTEC National Certificate over two years. William travelled form Coleraine to Lisburn one day per week to achieve this.

All these young men and women at the start of their careers show the sort of commitment and excellence which makes Translink the success it is and are a great example to us all.

For everyone in Translink - if you want to train or learn or develop more, we will give you support.

Philip O'Neill

Acting Chief Executive

In Translink
we have some of the very best apprentices