AN ACCRINGTON engineer has received a top industry gong after successfully completing his apprenticeship at BAE Systems.

Former St Christopher’s CE High School student Graham Slinger was named the North West’s Best Aerospace and Defence Apprentice at the North West Aerospace Alliances New Talent Awards.

The 22-year-old, who also received £1,000 in prize money, received the award at a glittering ceremony at the Imperial War Museum in Manchester.

The Plantation Street resident, who works at the defence giant’s Warton base, joined the company as an apprentice in September 2011 and has been working on the Typhoon Eurofighter project after completing stints in the testing, design, manufacturing and avionics departments.

The former Burnley College student was hailed last year after helping to create an innovative product for disabled athletes.

Graham was part of a BAE team tasked with improving the safety and usability of hand-bikes by military charity Help For Heroes.

The seven-strong team, made up of apprentices from across the county, engineered a new braking system that stops the cables from twisting and breaking.

Graham and the others were rewarded for their efforts by being crowned winners of the company’saerospace giant’s Apprentice Innovation Challenge.

Graham said: “I wasn’t expecting it at all to be honest.

“I had to submit the work I did the for hand-bikes project and give a presentation before I was told that I was nominated for the award.

“The awards night was great and it just so happened to coincide with the end of my apprenticeship so it was a nice way to sign off.

“I’m now looking forward to getting more experience at BAE and I’m thinking of starting an engineering degree next year.

“I have really enjoyed the apprenticeship at the company and I have liked going around the different departments and seeing the whole company and how it works.”

Andy Bloor, head of early careers at BAE Systems, said “This is a fantastic way of recognising Graham and work he has produced during his time with the company so far.

“Graham has really pushed the boundaries, helping to develop innovative solutions to everyday engineering problems.

“It’s great to see that innovative approach being rewarded and I hope Graham’s story will inspire many other budding engineers out there.”