TOP defence apprentices have been rewarded for their effort and dedication at an awards ceremony in Dorset.

Defence Support Group (DSG) Bovington recruits from across the county were honoured at the annual event in Poole.

Apprentice masters were also recognised for their contributions towards apprentices’ training for the first time.

DSG was launched last April, bringing ABRO and the Defence Aviation Repair Authority together into a single new defence fund.

The group provides expert maintenance, repair, overhaul and upgrade services to support key platforms and equipment for the UK armed forces.

DSG chief executive Archie Hughes was on hand to help deliver the awards to the apprentices at the RNLI Lifeboat College ceremony.

John Burt, from Weymouth, and Dan Poole, from Dorchester, were named the top Phase One recruits.

Ryan Gibson and Jamie Huet, from Bovington, were the Phase Two winners and Phase Three awards went to Dean Elford, from Swanage, and James Cairns, from Dorchester.

Peter Waite, from Poole, was handed the coveted Apprentice of the Year award, while Dorchester recruit John Crockford scooped the ‘most improved’ accolade.

Mr Hughes said: “DSG has an enviable track record in turning out apprentices of the highest calibre. This is evident in the wealth of talent we now have across the business.

“Our apprentices, trainers and Apprentice Masters should all be justifiably proud.”

DSG apprentices had asked bosses if they could recognise the efforts of apprentice masters this year.

Barry Masters, from East Knighton, won the first apprentice master award after receiving the most nominations from trainees.

Apprentice master certificates of merit were also awarded to Bob Hopkins, from Dorchester, Guy Elliott, from Maiden Newton, and Cerne Abbas trainer Mark Panchen.

DSG Bovington compliance manager Phillip Wellstead said: “We all appreciate the time, effort and patience the apprentice masters put into training our apprentices.

“We asked the apprentices to nominate the apprentice master they wished to honour and to tell us why.

“The comments received praised not just the standard of training, but also acknowledged the amount of encouragement given and how much the apprentices were made to feel comfortable in the workplace.”

WHAT THEY DO

THE Defence Support Group (DSG), a government trading fund, was formed on April 1, 2008.

It was established to proved support for the air, land and maritime systems of the UK’s armed forces.

The group employs around 3,500 staff and has sites across the country, including Bovington in Dorset. And small teams are also consistently embedded in other military locations to support operations – both at home and abroad.

DSG’s capabilities include maintenance, overhaul and upgrades of key land and air equipment, along with electronics, components and logistic support solutions.