Newly qualified engineer William Latham has designed a piece of equipment that has already saved his employer more than £20,000.

He was named Leoni Apprentice of the Year in 2022 and won three awards when he graduated from Staffordshire University in July 2023 with a first class honours degree in electrical and electronic engineering, including being named the best in his graduating year.

Andrea Mackrory, HR Business Partner at Leoni Wiring Systems UK Ltd, has nominated William in the Apprentice of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.

She said: “To be a good Engineer is easy. To be an excellent engineer needs people skills. Will possesses these in abundance. His demeanour and communication skills are exemplary. Added to this is his great sense of humour.

“Will is enthusiastic and well-motivated and a pleasure to have in the department. He offers forward some very modern ideas. He is prepared to take on any new task and it is now a joke that if it needs fixing, ask Will.

“Will’s approach to all aspects of work-related activities within engineering are delivered in a professional, friendly manner at all levels. His willingness to find solutions and share his thoughts make him stand out.

“We are so proud of what Will has achieved so far. We are confident he will continue to grow as a person, become a lead expert in his field, grow the Vehicle Measurement cross functional team relationship, make new friends within the international community and most of all just be Will.”

William joined Leoni in September 2018 as an engineering apprentice and started the Level 6 Embedded Electronic Systems Design and Development Engineering Apprenticeship later that month at Staffordshire University.

In 2020 he took up a post in the Leoni test and validation laboratory as a technician.