Daniel’s in line for NHS award
ALOCAL teenager has been shortlisted for an NHS apprentice of the year award.
Daniel Curran, who went to Maricourt Catholic High School in Maghull, has been nominated in the North West Skills Development Network Informatics Apprentice of the Year awards.
The 17-year-old, from Kirkby, was recognised due to the hard work he has displayed throughout his apprenticeship in the business intelligence team at NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG.
The award acknowledges and celebrates the outstanding commitment to professional development and occupational progress of informatics apprentices, alongside the contribution and positive difference they make to their workplace. Daniel said: “In the first year of my apprenticeship I feel that I have really developed and matured personally and academically.
“On a personal level I feel I have matured a lot.
“The apprenticeship role has played a large part in developing my skills and ability to work in a team.
“I came straight into work not knowing anyone in the team so I had to take it upon myself to get to know everyone and mould myself into being part of the team.
“I’d say I’ve also developed my confidence in the workplace which I feel has improved a lot as before I came here I was very shy.”
Karl McCluskey, chief strategy and outcomes officer, said: “We are really happy for Daniel.
“He really deserves to be recognised for his work here at the CCGs.
“Whilst excelling in the technical and academic aspects of his learning, he has also had many professional accomplishments.
“His work has been of such a high standard that some of it has been incorporated into our monthly Integrated Performance Report, which is presented to the Governing Body and published on our website.
“Myself and the team wish him the best in the awards, although getting shortlisted is already a great accomplishment and we are really proud of his achievements.”
Daniel has been shortlisted alongside Arron Jones from Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust and Bethany Egerton at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust.
The winner will be announced at the Informatics Connect Conference on Friday, September 22 at the Hilton Hotel, Blackpool. A CONSORTIUM of organisations led by Skelmersdale-based secondary packaging company TrakRap has been awarded a grant by Innovate UK to develop a prototype that could change the way aerosols are packaged and improve industry safety.
The consortium, which comprises the world’s Leading Logistics Company DHL, the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) in Coventry and the University of Bradford, plans to use the grant to build a prototype stretch wrapping packaging machine specifically for use in the aerosol industry, to replace the shrink wrapping systems which are currently used.
The use of shrink wrapping to package aerosols is inherently dangerous as the high temperatures required to shrink the film carry significant explosion risks.
The grant was secured from Innovate UK, the agency responsible for driving scientific and technological innovations to grow the UK economy, following the successful completion of a proof of concept.
The proposed prototype eliminates the need for high temperatures entirely by using a 100% recyclable polymer stretch film.
Its innovative technology will also reduce energy requirements by over 90% and reduce the use of plastics by over 60% compared to current shrink wrapping technologies, offering additional financial and environmental benefits to users.
Martin Leeming, CEO of TrakRap, said: “It’s no secret that aerosols present significant challenges to the packaging industry; they are pressurised and highly inflammable by design, so the need to protect them - and those working with them - at every stage of the packaging process is of paramount importance.
“Historically, packaging manufacturers have been able to get around the problem by using traditional packaging methods, but a safe, energy efficient solution which sets the bar for the whole industry is still required.
“With the backing of Innovate UK, and the support of our partners, we’re confident that we will be able to provide it.”