TOMMY Mansell is making headlines wth his apprenticeship at Barnsley College.
The 17-year-old is currently working on his business administration level three in the college’s enterprise department, based in the Sci Tech building.
He started last year and since then, has revived college newspaper The Grapevine, doubled the number of stallholders at the My Markets events and now runs monthly competitions to encourage students to get more involved.
“The Grapevine is something a bit extra for people to do and an outlet for whatever they want to share. It might be something which is going on in groups or it could be health and wellbeing. It is not like a newsletter, it is quite informal.
“When I started I just had a name and then I started putting ideas together. I write and collect content, design it, get it printed and then handle distribution too. We have the fourth edition coming out soon.”
In addition to the Grapevine, Tommy has been responsible for a boom in attendance at the college’s My Markets scheme.
My Markets encourages students and external businesses to have stalls at regular market days on site.
“It is about students and local businesses coming together. I help sort where and when it is going to be and manage getting the external businesses in too.”
Tommy, from Hemsworth, said his apprenticeship has seen his confidence increase as he deals with people and companies.
He was one of a number of apprentices featured as part of Barnsley College’s video for BTEC Apprenticeship Provider of the Year in 2017.
He was nominated for the Young Champions Young Apprentice of the Year category by line manager Gareth Stewart and has now made the final three shortlist.
Gareth said: “There are simply not enough superlatives to describe how fantastic Tommy is. He is no only keen to learn and to develop new skills, but he is also extremely passionate about doing a good job and providing our stakeholders with a timely and quality service.
“Tommy goes above and beyond on a daily basis, astounding us with his drive, initative, will to learn and passion for doing the best job he possibly can. At times, it is easy to forget he is an apprentice who is still learning and developing his skill set.
“Put simply, I cannot think of a more worthy winner of a Young Champions Award because Tommy epitomises the characteristics that we want all young people to display.
“Tommy is an apprentice so he works at college to learn, but I find myself learning from him every single day.”
