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BMX champ rides into apprenticeship awards final

A NORTH East teenager has been named among the 24 finalists of the National Apprenticeship Awards.

Jack Hall, 15, from Rowlands Gill, is a BMX racing champion who combines his studies with training towards his Olympic dream and inspiring others to get fit.

The Hookergate Comprehensive School pupil started the Young Apprenticeship programme in 2008 and as a result signed up to study a BTEC First Diploma in Sport in collaboration with Gateshead College alongside his GCSE qualifications.

He recently won the Young Apprentice of the Year category in the North East regional heats and throughout his Young Apprenticeship programme he has taken part in a number of work placements, including leading and delivering sessions on a range of sports, in local primary schools.

On top of this and his studies, Jack still finds time to help out at his local gym PB Fitness, deliver circuit training classes at school to his fellow pupils and keep up his BMX racing training as the reigning U16 regional, British and national series champion.

Jack said: “The Young Apprenticeship programme has helped me to focus on my personal, sporting and career goals. The skills I’ve learnt have allowed me to strike a good balance between studying, developing my work-related skills and my BMX training. I am looking forward to the final and hope I can bring a winning trophy back home to the North East.”

The Awards ceremony, organised by the National Apprenticeship Service, will take place on 15 July in London.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .