Apprentice Martyn Masters has been named Rising Star of the Year at the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Awards.
The accolade recognises his commitment to learning, professional development and career progression with Swindon-based electrical and compliance specialists TECC Ltd.
Martyn, 39, who lives in Swindon with his family, received the prestigious award at a gala event after demonstrating exceptional dedication to advancing his career through adult education.
His journey reflects a determination to embrace new challenges and continually develop his skills while balancing work and family life.
“Winning the Rising Star Award is something I’m incredibly proud of and honestly wasn’t expecting. It means a lot because it recognises the hard work and commitment I’ve put into changing my career while balancing work and family life,” he said.
“Going back into education in my 30s wasn’t an easy decision, but it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
"I’m really grateful to TECC for believing in me, supporting me throughout my apprenticeship, and to the judges for recognising my journey.”
Martyn joined TECC Ltd as a Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) technician over nine years ago, where his commitment, professionalism and pride in his work quickly stood out.
His strong work ethic led to promotion to Head Technician, but he set his sights even higher by pursuing the qualifications needed to become a fully trained electrician.
To achieve that ambition, Martyn returned to education to gain the qualifications in English and Maths the college required, successfully completing both qualifications through evening courses in 2023/2024.
Later in 2024, he began a four-year Level 3 Electrical apprenticeship and has now successfully completed the first two years of the programme in partnership with Swindon’s New College.
“I’ve always believed you’re never too old to learn or to challenge yourself," he said.
"I wanted to build a better future for myself and my family, and becoming a qualified electrician has been a goal I’ve worked towards for years.
“Alongside my full-time job and apprenticeship, I’ve also built and run my own inflatable and disco hire business.
"It’s meant long days, late nights and weekends working to help support my family financially while investing in my future. It’s been hard work at times, but every step has been worth it.
“My long-term goal is to become a fully qualified electrician so I can focus on the career I’ve worked so hard to achieve.
"Once I’m qualified, I’d like to reduce my self-employed work and commit even more of my time and energy to being an electrician.
"I genuinely enjoy learning, I take pride in doing a job properly, and I want to keep developing my skills so I can be the best electrician I can be for both my customers and my team."
Pete McCallum, co-founder of the family-run business, said: “From day one of working with us, Martyn showed passion for his work and demonstrated a willingness to learn and develop.
"He's always been fantastic with customers and we're so proud of him and all that he has achieved so far.”
It was fellow founder Maria McCallum who suggested that Martyn should be entered for the award – unbeknown to Martyn himself.
“He is the kind of work colleague we all wish for. He loves what he does, he cares about his work and our customers and going back into education and learning while having a busy family life is deserving of recognition,” Maria said.
TECC Ltd provides electrical, compliance and safety services to businesses across the region, delivering professional, reliable solutions through a highly skilled and continually developing team. For more information visit https://tecc.ltd/









Your Comments
Be the first to comment on this article
Login or Register to post a comment on this article