A YOUNG employee at Shaftesbury printing firm Blackmore Ltd has been named Apprentice of the Year.

Mateusz Sapko, apprentice pre/press digital operator at the company, was handed the title at the Apprenticeship Graduation and Awards Lunch.

Run by the British Printing Industries Federation (BPIF), Mateusz was handed the title during a glittering awards ceremony on November 10 at London’s St Bride Foundation.

Managing director at Blackmore Ltd, Andrew Robbins, said: “We are very proud of Mat being recognised by winning this award.

“It is very well deserved and a credit to the work he has put in and the support the team here and the BPIF have provided to help with his development.

“It is a real accolade for Mateusz to be recognised by the UK’s leading trade association – well done.”

Andrew Robbins, MD at Blackmore Ltd

Mat said: “I am so happy and thankful to Blackmore for recognising my hard work over the last two years, since I started my apprenticeship and employment with them.

“My success wouldn’t have been possible without the people that I work with on a day-to-day basis.

“I didn’t expect to be nominated for this award and the fact that I became the winner seems unreal.

“I just wanted to say thank you again and I hope for even greater successes in the future together with Blackmore.”

Apprenticeship roles span at least 24 months, with participants spending 20% of their time on ‘off-the-job’ training, provided by the BPIF, of which Blackmore is a member.

Although starting their career at Blackmore as an apprentice, they are taken on as permanent members of staff, so once they complete the apprenticeship, they will be highly-trained employees in their chosen field.

And MD Andrew said the accolade crowned a big month for the firm.

“The Apprentice of the Year award win comes hot on the heels of Blackmore’s recent Environmental Impact award win at October’s Dorset Business Awards,” he added.

“So as a business, we are extremely pleased to have won two major awards in the space of a month.”

Carol Wright, compliance administrator at Blackmore, said: “According to the BPIF, the average age of the UK print workforce is 43 years old. So it’s essential for us to recruit young employees to lead us forward into the future.

“We are also always keen to encourage staff onto an apprenticeship who have lots of experience but may want to improve their skills. The BPIF trains our apprentices – they are the leading printing and manufacturing training provider, so they understand our business inside out.”

Formed in 1900, Blackmore has carved out a reputation as one of the UK’s leading green printers, winning several awards for its environmental credentials, and is committed to achieving net-zero this decade.

For more information about Blackmore, visit www.blackmore.co.uk.