John is Higher Apprentice of the Year

A high-achieving 24-year-old from Sunderland has beaten hundreds of apprentices to be crowned North East England's 'Higher Apprentice of the Year' at the regional final of the National Apprenticeship Awards.

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John Elliott—an Access Training apprentice and engineer at Pyrocelimpressed the judges by doubling the capacity of his employer's installations department, increasing revenue by 30%, and excelling in a management position usually held by someone double his age. After completing A-Levels at St Robert of Newminster Sixth Form in Washington, John joined Gateshead-based Access Training as a shy, underconfident 18-year-old with a natural ability in maths and engineering, and a desire to earn while he learned.