Nuclear industry lauds ‘outstanding quality’ apprentices

Crane, an active STEM ambassador, has already twice been awarded apprentice of the year, by both his employer and training provider. He completed his apprenticeship in Process Engineering Maintenance and currently works as a decommissioning and recycling craft technician.

Other recipients included Business Service Apprentice of the Year, Amy Mayor from BAE Systems Submarines, who currently works as a senior project engineer in Nuclear Manufacturing.

Sellafield Ltd produced two of the winners: Manufacturing Apprentice of the Year Aidan Bennett, who is employed as a manufacture machinist, while Scientific Apprentice of the Year Daniel Hagan works as a health physics monitor.

They show us the outstanding quality of people coming into all parts of the nuclear sector who will play a vital role [meeting] the considerable challenges it faces

Joanna Woolf, CEO, Cogent Skills

Science Graduate of the Year went to Naomi Pulfrey from BAE Systems Submarines, a product safety graduate. BAE Systems Submarines systems engineer James Cross won Engineering Graduate of the Year.

MoD Nuclear Project Engineer Charlotte Burman is Postgraduate Student of the Year, while Lauren Eastburn and Beth Howarth-Henry, both from BAE Systems Submarines, shared STEM Ambassador award.

Joanna Woolf, CEO of Cogent Skills which jointly runs the awards with the National Skills Academy for Nuclear, said: “[The] Nuclear Skills Awards truly showcase the nuclear sector’s talent. I’m delighted to congratulate all the winners and finalists –  they show us the outstanding quality of people coming into all parts of the nuclear sector who will play a vital role in helping it meet the considerable challenges it faces.”

Photo: David Peattie, CEO of award sponsor NDA; Benjamin Crane; presenter Julia Bradbury; and Chris Lloyd, URENCO UK engineering and projects manager.