The Brathay Apprentice Challenge pitted eight teams of apprentices against each other in a range of challenges designed to test young people’s business acumen, team working and even physical endurance. The finals, at the Brathay Trust’s Cumbrian HQ, saw the Cobham team beat seven other teams from Balfour Beatty, Bentley Motors, the Co-operative, MBDA Missile Systems, the National Apprenticeship Service, Rolls-Royce and Virgin Media.

The two-day event in Cumbria tested teams’ problem solving and physical endurance, culminating in a 10-mile whaler boat race across Lake Windermere and built on six weeks of fundraising and communications challenges.

The Cobham team raised almost £4,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation by cycling around the Isle of Wight, hitchhiking from Dorset to Cumbria and other fundraising activities. In addition, the team secured support from celebrities, including Matt Cardle, conducted talks in schools and raised the profile of the competition on Twitter and Facebook.

The members of Team Cobham are all Bournemouth and Poole College Apprentices. The team consisted of Nick Shipp, Ed Tillard, James Coyne-Downhill, Bradley Wood, Lloyd Jamieson, Jade Harrison-Jieve, Mark Empson and Alex Seton.

Team captain, Nick Shipp, said:
“It’s a real honour to have won the Brathay Apprentice Challenge. It’s been a tough competition, with the other teams really pushing us to the limit. We’re really proud of our achievement, not only at the finals in Cumbria, but also in raising £4,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation.”

Gerry Bishop MBE, Employee Development Manager, congratulated their apprentices and said:
“Our apprentices are an integral part of the Company’s future and indeed the whole industry. We are thrilled to have come away with the top prize against formidable opposition – it’s a hugely positive sign for the future of Cobham that our apprentices are already showing they are the best in the country.”

Jaine Bolton, Director of the National Apprenticeship Service, presented the awards to the winning team and said:
“Team Cobham are an example of how, in this new era of higher quality Apprenticeships, young people can really help the nation’s businesses grow. The winners are a real asset to their company and the Brathay Apprentice Challenge has been a fantastic way to recognise the incredible talent and success of the nation’s apprentices.”

Jez Anderson from the Brathay Trust, commented:
“The Challenge has recognised the vital role apprentices play at their firms and also helped the competitors’ personal development. The search for the apprentice team of the year has not only demonstrated the formidable skills of the nation’s apprentices, but helped demonstrate the range of careers available to young people.”