A YOUNG automotive apprentice from Watford has stepped up to the podium to receive a special award for his skills.

Eighteen-year-old Max King, of Sandringham Road, Watford, beat off stiff competition from across London, Luton, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire to be named as one of the winners of the 2008 Skillnet Apprentice of the Year competition.

Max, who went to Parmiters School, in Garston, has recently completed his second year of automotive training and works at Bushey Hall Garage.

His skill, expertise and dedication won him the WURTH Special Award category of the competition run by the West London-based Skillnet Automotive Academy.

Max said: “I first came to Bushey Hall Garage for work experience and enjoyed it so much I decided to become a mechanic and enrolled at college.

“I am really pleased to win this award. To be recognised for the work I do day to day is fantastic and I would like to thank everyone involved in my training that has helped make this possible.”

As well as the award, which was presented by Chief Executive of Skillnet Lee Acton at Glaxo Leisure Club in Greenford, Max also received top of the range automotive equipment.

Bushey Hall Garage has been an independent family-run garage for nearly 60 years.

Director Dawn Ayres said: “Max has learnt a lot during his apprenticeship and the on-the-job training has seen him come on in leaps and bounds. He is a good panel beater and we are proud of him for winning the award against strong competition.”

Skillnet is the largest provider of automotive Apprenticeship programmes in the UK and delivers programmes for DAF Trucks, Ford Motor Company and Scania (Great Britain) Ltd, as well as independent garages and dealerships across the country.