12 October 2020

Kathy Woodward Award for Learning winner announced

This year's winner is Matty Thornton, Cut and Crease Machine Operator at Essentra Packaging.

Jon Wilks, Site Manager said on Matty, "Matty was a sprung coil wanting to have a go at everything and when the opportunity came up, he jumped at the chance to train via the BPIF for a role as a Cut and Crease operator at Essentra, Fareham.

"He inspires others because of the way he carries himself, his dedication and perseverance. The pride he takes in his work has really impressed all of us here at Fareham and he is setting a high standard which is great to see."

Highly Commended this year was Mark Stokes, Print and Bindery Technician at Hampshire Printing Services.

Mark said of his achievement, "I would like to take this moment to give a special thank you to Robert Frewin (Production Supervisor) and all the team at Hampshire Print and Document Services (part of Hampshire County Council) for your continued support. Without this commitment to my development I would not be able to achieve the skills and knowledge that I have today. I feel so privileged to be Highly Commended for the prestigious Kathy Woodward Award and it shows that all the hard work over many years has been worth it.

"I would also like to say thank you to my wife and children for supporting me throughout, especially this year which has been so difficult for all of us within our own little bubble. Remember your never too old to learn!"

Launched in July 2015, in memory of the BPIF's much loved CEO, Kathy Woodward, who sadly passed away a year previously, the £1,000 Award - sponsored by Webmart - supports individuals in the print, packaging and graphic design industries to further their careers. Applicants were asked to submit a 500-word proposal on how they would spend the money in order to develop their careers.