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FROM LEFT: Martins apprentice mechanics Jamie Toms, who has been named BCOT apprentice of the year, and Ryan Sellars, who was named Renault apprentice of the year

TWO apprentices from a Basingstoke motoring group are celebrating after winning prestigious awards for their work.

Ryan Sellars, 22, who works at Martins Renault, in London Road, Hatch, has been named the Renault Apprentice of the Year, while 18-year-old Jamie Toms, who works in the neighbouring Martins Volkswagen dealership, has won the BCOT Young Apprentice of the Year Level 2 award.

Mr Sellars joined Martins Renault for a three-year apprenticeship after dropping out of a motorsport engineering degree at university.

He said: "I went to uni for six months, but it wasn't for me. A lot of time was spent in the lecture theatre and I like to be more hands-on.

"During the apprenticeship, I've gone on block releases to the Renault training centre in Doncaster to learn theory before coming back to Basingstoke to put it into practice."

After being nominated for the award by his tutor at the Renault training centre, Mr Sellars, of Lay Field, Hook, attended a day of rigorous timed tests for eight finalists in Doncaster.

He said: "I was really pleased to find out that I had won as the test day was really challenging.

"When I finish my apprenticeship I want to stay on here to get some extra training. I really enjoy learning on the job."

Mr Toms, of Grainger Close, Brighton Hill, Basingstoke, who is two years into a three-year apprenticeship, said: "I was really proud to hear that I had won the award. I've worked hard at college and enjoy going in on day release.

"I've got one more year of my apprenticeship to go. Once I've finished, I'd be interested in going into diagnostics."

Roy Brice, after-sales manager for Martins Renault, said: "Ryan is a fantastic apprentice. If he continues to train, he will make a very good senior technician. For the group, his success is a great achievement."

Dwayne White, head of after-sales at Martins Volkswagen, said: "Everyone was over the moon when we found out that Jamie had won his award.

"You can give Jamie any task and he'll complete it to a high standard."

11:11am Thursday 21st August 2008

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