PM Training team Steven Ellis and David Wilcox have won the WorldSkills UK gold award for landscaping.
The win means that Steven and David are regarded as the best apprenticeship Landscaping Team in the country.
Steven’s victory came within a month of him achieving Youth Builder of the Year and during the same week as PM Training was named Social Enterprise of the Year in England.
PM Training is part of the Aspire Group, which comprises Aspire Housing, social enterprise arm Enterprising Futures and regeneration charity The Realise Foundation.
Steven, aged 19, said: “I can’t believe that we won – this has been an amazing year for me and I can’t wait to see if I’m selected for the final next year in Germany.”
Will Nixon, Aspire Group’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “The Aspire Group is a long-term supporter of WorldSkills and this year we are delighted that Steven and Dave have won the national final.
“We’re so proud of both of them. They are a real credit to the organisation, and are great role models for other young people in similar circumstances.”
The WorldSkills UK Competition brings together the best of British talent and sees more than 1,000 young people from across the country competing against one another in skills ranging from welding to web design. This year, the UK competition took place in Birmingham.
The result will hopefully see Steven representing Team GB in next year’s Worldskills final in Germany. Unfortunately, Dave will be too old to enter next year.
Steven’s strength lies in landscape gardening. Along with supervisor Dave, the pair came first in the heats of the UK Landscape Gardening competition in Stoneleigh.
Two years ago, 19-year-old Steven Ellis from Abbey Hulton was disheartened by his education and he failed to pass his exams. Former careers advice service, Connexions, suggested a placement with leading social enterprise PM Training.
Since then, Steven has never looked back. He is now working his way towards a diploma and a career in landscaping.
