Young Apprentice Wins

Certas Energy apprentice, Asad Ali, wins Transport & Logistics award in the Asian Apprenticeship Awards 2017

Asad, 21, from London, was announced the winner in a dazzling awards ceremony held at the Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham last week (Thursday 2nd November). Asad was nominated by his employer, Alex Wolfe, Regional Manager at Certas Energy, and was joined at the awards by Fran Ludford, Work-Based Learning Manager at Sussex Downs College.

Asad joined Certas Energy after being matched to the company through local apprenticeship and skills provider, Sussex Skills Solutions, a collaboration between Sussex Downs College and Sussex Coast College Hastings.

“Asad came to Certas for an interview and immediately stood out as an honest and ambitious young man who could, commercially, hugely add to our business,” says Alex. “Asad saw his apprenticeship as the start of a professional journey and has a fantastic open mind to learning.”

In the latter part of his apprenticeship, Asad introduced multiple new business accounts, placing him in the top 25 employees, in a sales force of 140, in terms of results and portfolio growth. Asad also played a role in allowing Certas Energy to increase its portfolio of vehicles from 22 to 90 in the greater London region.

Within a short time of completing his apprenticeship, Asad was promoted to a Business Account Manager within Certas.

“Asad has shown that whatever your educational and cultural background, you can cross commercial frontiers with a strong work ethic and a personality that understands the commercial needs of your customer base,” says Alex. “He is very deserved of this award! He is a credit to the fuel industry, an ambassador to Certas Energy and demonstrates the educational value that Sussex Skills Solutions can bring to the workplace.”

Fran Ludford adds, “A huge congratulations to Asad on his win! We are so proud of him and what he has accomplished. Asad came to us wanting a fulfilling career, and he has achieved that and more through hard work and determination throughout his apprenticeship programme. He had the academic support with Sussex Downs College, and also that of his employer, but ultimately, it is Asad’s work ethic and personality that won this award. He will certainly go on to achieve great things.”

The Asian Apprenticeship Awards support the Government’s target of increasing the number of apprentices by 20 per cent by 2020.