At just 22 years old, Scotland’s top apprentice is driving the installation of no less than eleven engineering systems onto ships for BAE Systems.

Glasgow’s Robert Tosh was crowned Scotland’s Modern Apprentice of the Year at Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship Awards in Glasgow on Wednesday 21 November.

Robert, from Crookston, also won the Construction and Production Apprentice of the Year category at the event, sponsored by sector skills council Semta. The judges were bowled over by Robert’s hard work and by his commitment to his apprenticeship and future ambitions.

Earlier this year Robert who works for BAE Systems Maritime Naval Ships was made lead engineer. He is also a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) ambassador who promotes engineering to young people

Congratulating Robert and the category winners, event sponsor Semta’s National Manager for Scotland, Brian Humphrey, likened the Awards to this year’s Olympics, and said: “The Awards are about inspiration and celebrating success, recognising dedication, commitment and hard work too. All the finalists have shown these things.”

Speaking at the Awards, Scotland’s Youth Employment Minister Angela Constance said, "These Awards very clearly show the value of the Modern Apprenticeship programme to employers, highlight the brightest and the best of Scotland's apprentices and underline our commitment to supporting more young people into employment.

"Investing in Scotland's young people is absolutely the right thing to do in these difficult economic times and also the smart thing to do for business growth. I hope that the commitment shown by the young people here tonight encourages more employers to consider how the next generation of our workforce could enhance their business."

Chair of Skills Development Scotland, John F McClelland CBE, said: "Robert's success offers an outstanding example of the benefits the programme can bring to both apprentices and employers and is one of a generation of young apprentices in Scotland who make a great contribution to their workplaces as they develop their careers."

Category winners included business administration apprentice Zoie Montgomery, 18. The Glasgow based apprentice works for SCRA (Scottish Children’s Reporter Administration), in Stirling, and won the Service Apprentice of the Year Award. Melrose chef Jonny Streets, 26, who works in the town’s Burt’s Hotel was named Adult Apprentice of the Year.

Edinburgh based specialist recruitment firm Bright Purple Resourcing Ltd won the award for Small Employers for companies with less than 50 employees, while Dumfries conference and wedding venue Easterbrook Hall were chosen as Scotland’s best Medium Employer for those with fewer than 250 workers.

The Large Employers category was won by local authority Falkirk Council, where the number of jobless young people has dropped to its lowest level in two years.

Scotstoun’s Xchanging HR Services, in conjunction with BAE Systems, Anniesland and Clydebank Colleges won the Partnership Award for their MA programme. Since 2001 over 700 apprentices have completed their training which has been updated to ensure it meets the demands of an ever-changing workforce.

The Award for Best Business Newcomer was given to international IT services company Atos, in Livingston, who piloted their MA programme in 2010 in addition to their traditional graduate pathways.

Scotland’s Modern Apprenticeship of the Year winners:

Modern Apprentice of the Year

Robert Tosh, Glasgow

Construction and Production Apprentice of the Year

Robert Tosh, Glasgow

Service Apprentice of the Year

Zoie Montgomery, Glasgow/Stirling

Adult Apprentice of the Year

Jonny Streets, Melrose

Small Employers – less than 50 employees

Bright Purple Resourcing Ltd, Edinburgh

Medium Employers – between 50 and 249 employees

Easterbrook Hall, Dumfries

Large Employers – over 250 employees

Falkirk Council, Falkirk

Partnership

Xchanging with BAE Systems, Anniesland and Clydebank Colleges, Glasgow and Clydebank

Best Business Newcomer

Atos, Livingston