Graduating Volvo Technician Apprentice Ross Harrison has won the prestigious Jim Keyden Award at Volvo’s annual Technician Training Awards ceremony, which was held at the Motorcycle Museum, near to the NEC, Birmingham. The trophy and a cheque for £500 were presented to Ross by Sir Henry Cooper, who was the special guest presenter for the evening.

This is the first time that the Jim Keyden Award has been made as the trophy was previously known as the ‘Graduating Apprentice of the Year’. The name change was to honour Jim Keyden, who together with Jim McKelvie, was one the founders of the Volvo Truck and Bus organisation in the UK.

Although Jim Keyden died in 2006 (aged 92), his son, Douglas Keyden was present at the ceremony to witness the inaugural presentation.

Ross Harrison, who works at Volvo Truck and Bus Centre North, Blyth in Northumbria, was one of 33 Technician Apprentices who started their training on the Volvo Apprenticeship programme at Stephenson College, Coalville, Leics in 2004 to graduate this year.

Ross was judged to be the Graduating Apprentice who best met the award criteria of consistently high academic achievement (with Merit and Distinction grades), personal effort in studying and being able to work effectively with others.

Other notable winners at the Volvo Technician Training Awards evening included Ross Alsop from Volvo Truck and Bus Centre Scotland, Aberdeen, who the ‘Highest Academic Achiever’ award.

In addition, Alexander Pettitt from Hartshorne (Potteries) won the ‘Most Improved Student’ award.

Other groups to receive Awards were 14 Volvo Bus Frontline Technicians and 33 Master Technicians.

For more information, please contact :
Nigel Hanwell, Press Officer, Volvo Truck Limited
Tel: +44 (0) 1926 414210
Mobile: +44 (0) 7831 817083
Fax: +44 (0) 1926 414386
E-mail : nigel.hanwell@volvo.com