Martin is Apprentice of the Year

MARTIN Bird, an apprentice painter with ng2 has been honoured for his hard work and commitment to his studies by James Watt College in Greenock earning the award of apprentice painter and decorator of the year.

The young apprentice, 25, started work as a trainee with social enterprise companyng2 back in 2010 and worked as an Estate Services Operative with duties including close cleaning, backcourt tidy ups, litter picking and bulk uplift.

Martin was soon promoted to ng2’s painting division and grasped the opportunity to learn his trade as an apprentice 2 days per week at James Watt College whilst working the rest of the week in North Glasgow.

At college Martin has studied preparation to wall surfaces, applied finishing coats of paint, wallpapering and decorative studies.

Martin, a local man and also a tenant of ng homes starts his third year at the college in the autumn and his supervisor at ng2 Robert Readie said: “I am delighted for Martin, he works hard and he deserves this recognition. He will soon be fully qualified and that will be another great achievement for him, we are really pleased with his progress.”

Chairperson of ng2 Margaret Thomson said: “Its always great to see our employees doing well and I congratulate Martin on his hard work in being awarded Apprentice of the Year by his college.”

Painting and Decorating Lecturer at James Watt college, Andrew Neeson said, “Each year at the Greenock campus we recognise and award two students who have incessantly excelled throughout the academic year; producing work to an extremely high standard and to every task given. Martin was awarded 2nd year apprentice of the year after displaying a natural ability for both painting and decorating. Martin has been a pleasure to teach and has gone from strength to strength.”