A YOUNG man with ‘engineering in his blood’ has been named ‘Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year 2018’, having been won ‘Apprentice of the Month’ back in January last year.

Ryan Heath, 21, has worked at Grail Engineering in Cinderford for five and half years.

The former Dene Magna School, Mitcheldean, pupil is in the final year of his apprenticeship and was given the title by AMI UK, which promotes UK manufacturing, engineering and industry.

Ryan’s manager, Julian Grail, said: “We have been training apprentices for over 30 years and Ryan is one of our best ever.

“He will have a very successful career as an engineer.

“It gives me a great deal of pride that there are small businesses out there like us in the Forest of Dean who can train young people.

“We have trained something over 50 apprentices here and many have gone on to very good jobs”.

Ryan left Dene Magna School at 16 and got an apprenticeship at Grails. Now, he oversees work experience students from his old school.

“Engineering’s been in my blood,” Ryan said. “I am very proud to have been an apprentice – my Dad worked his way up at aeronautical company Messier Dowty (now Safran Landing Systems), where he is a quality technician.

“Grails have looked after me and the apprentices very well. You are not just an employee to them – you are an actual person they care about.”

Grail Engineering was established by Julian’s father, Chick Grail, in 1965 and now employs 45 staff with a turnover of £3m.

The Cinderford site covers 19,000 square feet and works across southwest England.

Ian Mean, director of Gloucestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: “Grail is a great SME and a real trailblazer for the Forest in engineering.”