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Three engineering apprentices studying with the Lancashire and Cumbria Institute of Technology (L&C IoT) were shortlisted for top honours at this year’s Lancashire Apprenticeship Awards.
Thahmid Alam, George Calvert and Matthew Green are all studying or have recently completed engineering apprenticeships delivered through the IoT at Burnley College – one of the institute’s education partners.
Between them, they competed in two of the awards’ most contested categories: Degree Apprentice of the Year, and Engineering/Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year.
Thahmid Alam, an apprentice at Proctor Process Plant Ltd, is shortlisted for Degree Apprentice of the Year – the category recognising the highest-level apprentices in the country.
Working at Level 6 alongside his employer means Thahmid is already applying degree-level engineering thinking to live commercial projects – the kind of senior technical talent the IoT was set up to develop.
George Calvert, who works for the Eric Wright Group, was a finalist in the Engineering / Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year category. The Eric Wright Group, one of the North West’s leading construction and engineering employers, is using the IoT pathway as a route into building its own engineering pipeline.
Joining George in the Engineering/Manufacturing category was Matthew Green, an apprentice at window systems manufacturer VEKA PLC. Matthew’s nomination underlines the IoT’s reach into advanced manufacturing – a sector that continues to drive Lancashire’s economy.
Jessica Parkinson, from Burnley College, said: “We are immensely proud to see the talent and dedication of our apprentices recognised on such a prestigious stage.
“These nominations are a testament to the powerful partnerships between our exceptional apprentices and the supportive employers who invest in their growth. Being shortlisted as finalists for the Lancashire Apprenticeship Awards 2026 highlights our commitment to working closely with employers to inspire excellence and ensure the region remains competitive in a rapidly evolving market.”
The 2026 Lancashire Apprenticeship Awards took place at Blackpool Football Club in May.