Coventry University

A Coventry University apprenticeship graduate says his underprivileged start in life no longer defines his future in a message of hope to aspiring apprentices. Lawrence Powell is one of 13 product design and development apprentices employed by the UK engineering firm, Renishaw who have graduated from Coventry University - the first group to do so via this route. He defied his underprivileged background to turn his teenage passion for engineering into a professional career.

Two Coventry University engineering apprentices scooped the top prizes at the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) West Midlands awards held in December.