Innovia Films apprentices named Team of the Year

A team of apprentices from film manufacturer Innovia Films has won a competition to test their non-technical work skills and personal attributes.

Supported by the National Apprenticeship Service, the Brathay Apprentice Challenge tests non-technical work skills and the personal attributes of competing apprentices.

To reach the final, Innovia Films' apprentices were selected from 90 teams after organizing a community project renovating sites for the charity Chrysalis, and conducting school visits to talk about how doing an apprenticeship means young people can earn while they learn.

UK skills minister Matthew Hancock said: ‘The apprentices taking part in the Brathay Apprentice Challenge have shown a huge amount of ambition, dedication and commitment, and have demonstrated how apprentices deliver for their employers day in, day out. The finalists are an inspiration to any young person considering an apprenticeship.’

Innovia Films was joined in the final by teams from: BCTS, a team of apprentices from small businesses across Norwich, trained by Broadland Council Training Services; Burnley Borough Council; Cobham, the 2012 winners; East Midlands Housing; Norse Group; Plymouth City Council; and Unilever.

In the final two-day challenge, held this week at Brathay Trust’s Cumbrian HQ, they narrowly beat Norse Group and Cobham into second place. They undertook problem solving and physical endurance challenges, culminating in a whaler boat race across Lake Windermere that tested the upper body strength of competitors.

Also taken into consideration was their fundraising achievement of over £6,000 and completion of the community project for Chrysalis.

Tarran Vailionis, Innovia Film apprentice team member, said: ‘It’s a real honor to have won the Brathay Apprentice Challenge.

‘It’s been a tough competition, with the other teams really pushing us to the limit.  We’re really proud of our achievement, not only at the finals in Cumbria, but in the past six months.’

Read more on substrates here

Watch the Innovia Films' team of apprentices in action below