Farrier John Hughes has been named Approved Training Farrier (ATF) of the Year 2007 by the Farrier Training Agency.
The award was given at the diploma presentation ceremony in London on Thursday, 28 February.
Mr Hughes said: “I am thrilled and delighted to have received this award. It is a great idea and hopefully will encourage excellence throughout the industry.
“The most rewarding thing about being an ATF is having an input as someone develops into a professional person and craftsperson that will achieve great things.”
In order to select a winner, colleges were asked to nominate two ATFs that had apprentices finish in 2007. The previous apprentices then submitted nomination forms for their individual ATF.
Mr Hughes’s previous apprentice Thomas Richards attended the ceremony.
Mr Richards said: “Speaking from the heart, I would not have changed my apprenticeship and could not have had a better boss. He is a pleasure to work for and I would recommend him as an ATF.”
A variety of qualities including how the ATF prepared his apprentice for the ‘real world’ of farriery, the professional and business skills and values he passed on, how he helped his apprentice overcome any kinds of difficulties and if he inspired his apprentice to become an AFT in the future.
This year was the third running of the ATF of the Year Award.
As well as his award Mr Hughes took home a cheque for £500 from Lantra, the Sector Skills Council for the farrier industry.
