Andy Fishwick named South East Advanced Apprentice of the Year
Monday 7th June, 2010
Andy Fishwick, an apprentice helicopter maintenance engineer with PremiAir, the UK’s largest helicopter charter and management company, has been named South East Advanced Apprentice of the Year winner 2010 by the Learning Skills Council.
The awards celebrate excellence in vocational education across the south-east region and acknowledge the outstanding achievements of individuals at every stage in their career. Andy will now go on to compete against regional winners from across the country at the National Apprenticeship Awards, to be held at Westminster Plaza in London on June 15, 2010.
Andy, 19, was selected for the PremiAir apprenticeship scheme, in conjunction with Farnborough College of Technology, in 2007. He continues to study for City & Guilds and NVQ qualifications in aircraft maintenance at Farnborough, as well as enjoying the hands-on aspects of his chosen career at PremiAir’s executive helicopter maintenance and engineering centre at Blackbushe Airport.
“It is a great privilege to win this award,” said Andy. “I am thrilled, especially because I was up against some tough competition. I will now continue my work, including learning and development because it’s a vital part of ensuring we are constantly striving for excellence in the workplace.”
Barry Stone, PremiAir’s Engineering Director, said: “Andy is quite simply an outstanding apprentice. Over the past two years we have witnessed him build his confidence both in his career and at a personal level. As a result he is extremely competent at carrying out skilled tasks. He achieved two license modules in just two months, received an outstanding company appraisal and consistently produces work to high standards. Andy now hopes to complete his apprenticeship to progress through the company and encourage other young people to start their careers in aviation. He has a very bright future ahead of him.”
PremiAir remains committed to the apprenticeship scheme and will take on another apprentice from Farnborough College of Technology later this year, bringing the number of apprentices employed by PremiAir to eight. Barry Stone commented: “The apprenticeship scheme represents a significant investment by PremiAir, however, we view it as a long-term venture and we will certainly reap the benefits in the future whilst providing young men and women from the local community with exciting career opportunities.”
- Ends -
Picture caption: Andy Fishwick (centre) pictured with Marinos Paphitis, Regional Director for the Learning Skills Council (left) and Sky News presenter Charlotte Hawkins (right).
Editor’s Notes:
Established 30 years ago, PremiAir is the UK’s largest Executive Helicopter Charter and Management company and has now added Private Jet Charter and Management operations to its range of services. It has bases at Denham, Blackbushe, Oxford and Farnborough Airports in the UK.
PremiAir is privately owned by the von Essen Group and is a sister company of von Essen Hotels, which owns and operates 28 luxury hotels throughout the UK and Europe.
PremiAir also manages and operates The London Heliport at Battersea, which remains the UK capital’s only commercial heliport. New ultra modern business aviation terminal facilities will be opening this summer connected to a luxury 5 star hotel development, Hotel Verta.
PremiAir flies approximately 4,000 charter hours a year with its modern fleet of Sikorsky S76s and Eurocopter Twin Squirrels. It has 18 Executive Helicopters on management programmes; providing turnkey services to their owners.
PremiAir’s maintenance business is also an FAA, EASA, CAA Part 145-approved organization; it is a Sikorsky Service Centre for the S76 (all models), a Bell Customer Service Facility for Bell 222, 230 and 430 and is a Hawker Beechcraft Authorised Service Centre for their Beechcraft Model range. PremiAir is one of the largest Eurocopter maintenance centres in Europe supporting EC155, AS365 Dauphin and AS355 Twin Squirrel. The company also provides support services on the AgustaWestland 109 model range and is a Pratt & Whitney Canada recognised maintenance facility and a distributor for Honeywell, Rockwell Collins and numerous other equipment vendors.
PremiAir boasts Part 21J and G design and manufacturer approvals for aircraft modifications. With a large and experienced design office team, the company provides full refurbishment and upgrade services on most executive helicopter types and a wide range of fixed wing aircraft, including the full Beechcraft model range. Fixed wing aircraft are maintained at a new facility at Oxford Airport, which opened in October 2008.
PremiAir is a leading player in the provision of pilots to the UK Police Forces with contracts with UK / Ireland Police Air Support units.
PremiAir Global is the company’s aircraft sales and brokerage business. It specialises in acquiring and selling new and used helicopters and business jets and is based at Farnborough Airport, UK.
PremiAir recently scooped the ‘Best Executive Aviation Provider’ accolade at the 2010 Business Travel Awards. Other awards include Buying Business Travel Diamond Award Winner 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 Best Executive Aviation Provider. Luxury Travel Winner Best Private Charter Company 2008.