Cardiff and Vale College student Charlotte Ward has been awarded the title Ford Apprentice of the Year for Body Repair and Paint.

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The Apprentice of the Year awards is one of the biggest dates in Ford UK’s calendar and is hosted by Skillnet at the Henry Ford Academy in Daventry. Twenty-seven of the top apprentices from around the country went head-to-head to compete in a range of tasks in front of judges.

The awards are designed to celebrate the success and achievements of apprentices from a range of disciplines at all levels. The event also celebrates the dealers that employ them and provide the support necessary for apprentices to thrive and qualify in their chosen field.

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Charlotte, who is 21 and from Ebbw Vale, said:

“It was amazing – I genuinely didn’t expect to win.

“It was all really overwhelming. People kept coming up to me and saying ‘You’ve won one for the girls,’ which was awesome.”

Working in the motor industry is a dream career for Charlotte, who has been at the College for around one-and-a-half years.

“I’m loving the College and loving the work with Ford,” she said. “I’ve always wanted to go into the motor industry and work with cars and then Body Repair came up – I think it’s a better suit for me than what I originally wanted to do in the industry.”

Cardiff and Vale College Deputy Principal Sharon James said:

“Congratulations to Charlotte – we’re all really proud of her. Winning Ford Apprentice of the Year in her discipline is a fantastic achievement and testament to Charlotte’s hard work and determination, and to all the support she has received from lecturers to train her up this standard.”