William Cook recruit is AMRC Training Centre's Apprentice of the Year

Judges at the University of Sheffield organisation praised the 22-year-old’s “innovation, passion and fresh thinking” and said he has become an inspiration to his fellow apprentices and colleagues.

Shivan, from Bradford, is in the first year of his degree apprenticeship and is currently working as a CNC machinist at the group’s £15m rail plant in Leeds.

He said: “This means everything to me. I wasn’t expecting it at all - thank you to everyone who has supported to me. That support has been very important, it has pushed and helped me to do to more and keep on progressing.”

Shivan enjoyed maths and science at school and saw that engineering employs the same principles in a practical way.

Sir Andrew Cook, chairman of William Cook, said: “We recently welcomed our largest intake of apprentices in living memory.

“These bright young people represent the next generation of industry talent and are playing an important role in our Company’s future success as we move into higher value markets.

“We congratulate Shivan on his award and his continued hard work and enthusiasm for engineering.”

William Cook has 17 employees on training courses, including 12 at the AMRC Training Centre, and is looking to recruit more in the future.

The awards ceremony took place at the University of Sheffield’s Firth Hall and was sponsored by Siemens.

William Cook is an engineering group with newly modernised factories in Sheffield, Leeds and Stanhope in County Durham.

It designs and manufactures sophisticated components, assemblies and systems for blue chip customers across the world in the defence, rail, energy, architecture, intermodal and industrial markets.