An apprentice at Renault Truck distributor, RH Commercial Vehicles (RHCV), is celebrating after being named apprentice of the year 2017.

Gage Sludds from South Derbyshire was awarded Renault Trucks’ apprentice of the year 2017, beating 10 other apprentices across the UK to become the fifth employee at RHCV in their 40-year history to receive the award.

Sludds started working as an apprentice HGV technician with RHCV at the age of 16, undertaking the qualification at Stephenson College and training at the company’s Alfreton site in Derbyshire.

Following in his grandfather’s footsteps, who also used to work with trucks, he wanted to be an apprentice HGV technician after taking a light vehicle course at school.

Sludds has now been working at RHCV for four years and has been promoted to junior technician.

He said: “RHCV has been such a great place to start my career as there’s so much variety and lots of opportunities for learning new skills from brakes to engines. It’s a real family business and I’m part of a brilliant team that is massively supportive - we all have a great laugh together."

Pictured: RH Commercial's David Templeman (left) and Gage Sludds