A FORMER apprentice at a Weymouth company specialising in sonar defence systems has been given an award for his work.

Connaire Skerritt, 20, from Weymouth, was given the award by his bosses at Ultra Electronics after completing a three-year apprenticeship in Electronics and Computer Technology.

As part of the apprenticeship, Mr Skerritt worked four days a week at the firm as a technician apprentice and also attended Bournemouth and Poole College on day release.

Now, Mr Skerritt has been given the Apprentice Award by bosses after beating competition from the firm’s other apprentices across the country.

He was presented with a special desk trophy, a certificate and a specialised pen by managing director Ross Parsell in a special ceremony in September.

Mr Skerritt said: “The apprenticeship went well, I guess I was expecting it to be tougher than it was. It seemed to pass by very briefly.

“Now, I’m in a support role, I do different jobs and there are different tasks that I can now do following my course, whether it involves hardware or software, or servicing something.

“I was pleased when I got the award. I had come to the end of my apprenticeship and I didn’t know I was getting it so it was nice to have the work I did during that time recognised.”

Mr Parsell said: “I am delighted to present this award, as it is the culmination of our apprentice’s hard work and commitment to their future career development. They are excellent examples of apprenticeships in action.”

One of Mr Skerritt’s tutors, Bill Hellier, is also a former apprentice of the company having joined in 1967 and passed down his own expert knowledge to the apprentices during their course.

Mr Hellier said: “One of the best feelings is to see something you and the team have worked on go through from concept to production and then into service for the customer. That’s what I find so rewarding and satisfying.”