October 30, 2012 12.12 pm This story is over 137 months old

National award for Lincoln council apprentice

Top apprentice: An apprentice plumber in Lincoln scooped a national award for local authority trainees.

An apprentice plumber in Lincoln scooped a national award for local authority trainees.

City of Lincoln Council apprentice Titel Lia was named Apprentice of the Year in the mechanical and technical category of the awards presented by the Association of Public Sector Excellence.

Originally from Romania, Titel moved to the UK in 2009 to start a new life with his wife, Lucy, and has been working for the City Council since 2010.

During this time he has completed his Level 2 NVQ in plumbing and is now working towards Level 3. As part of his course he is specialising in renewable energy – learning how to provide hot water and heating using low-carbon technology.

Titel said: “The way I see this award is that it’s about team work – I would have never received this award without the help of my team at the council and my teachers at Lincoln College. I’m really grateful to them.

“If anyone is thinking about doing an apprenticeship, I’d say that you really should go for it. It’s very rewarding and I think it’s the best way to learn a new skill.”

Titel is now hoping to make it a double success having been nominated by Lincoln College for the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering Apprentice of the Year as well.

Steve Cadd, NVQ assessor at the college, said: “Titel has been a model and quite inspirational student. Over the year he’s overcome a lot of challenges but he’s performed really well on his course.

“He is industrious, motivated and very curious too – you can tell he enjoys his work.”

Source: City of Lincoln Council