Press release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Astro apprentice wins the 2015 ITP SME Apprentice of the Year Award

Astro apprentices take centre stage at the 2015 Institute of Telecommunications Professionals Apprentice of the Year Award with both selected as finalists and one winning the coveted award in the SME Category.

Kent, UK 30th October 2015

Astro Communications apprentice James Tuck was presented with the 2015 ITP SME Apprentice of the Year Award last night at the prestigious Radisson Blu Hotel, Portman Square, London. Adam Oliver, ITP CEO announced the results last night at the spectacular annual ITP Gala Dinner in front of a packed audience. It was a double celebration for Astro as James was closely followed by runner-up Joe Wing, a fellow Astro apprentice.

Astro launched its apprenticeship scheme with James and Joe in March 2014 enrolling both apprentices on a scheme devised and operated by the Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP), the UKs leading independent body for people working in the telecommunications industry with 8,000 members worldwide. Astro chose the ITP Apprenticeship due to the ITPs close ties with existing Professional Registration standards combined with the course content delivered by City College Coventry.

Steve Smith, Astro co-founder and CTO said “I am thrilled that James won the Apprentice of the Year Award. He is a great asset to Astro and thoroughly deserves the title. It has been a long term ambition of mine to launch a successful apprenticeship. Working with the ITP has made this possible and James winning the award with Joe a close runner-up is absolute proof it has been a success. I am extremely proud of them both.”

James Tuck said. “My greatest achievement before the award was finding an apprenticeship in the industry I love with a brilliant company, surrounded by an excellent team of people who want to help me succeed. Winning the award is just the icing on the cake and is recognition of a fantastic team effort with excellent support from Astro and the ITP staff, who have been amazing.”

Steve Hodges, Astro MD said. “We are delighted that both our apprentices made it through to the finals and that they were so close either of them could have won the award. They have both worked very hard having to fit their studies around their duties and deserve the recognition they received last night. I am sure they will both enjoy long and rewarding careers in our industry.”

– Ends –

For further information, please contact:

Steve Smith, steve.smith@astro.co.uk or Steve Hodges steve.hodges@astro.co.uk on 0203 058 7770.

Notes to editors

About Astro Communications.

Astro Communications Limited has been delivering technical solutions to solve business challenges for nearly 30 years. Founded by two former employees of BT and Cable and Wireless, Astro has gone on to deliver some of the most technically challenging and complex solutions in the market.

Providing services ranging from physical cabling and wireless LAN’s to cloud-based video conferencing and SIP services, key clients include Bourne Leisure Limited, Impellam Group PLC, Capital FM Arena, TGI Friday’s and Wightlink Ferries.

Astro Communications is headquartered in Hawley Manor, Dartford with staff based all over the country and partner organisations across the globe.