Q. Why did you choose to go down the route of an apprenticeship?

After finishing my A-levels, I wasn’t sure whether to go straight to university or take a gap year. I explored various options, and a family friend sent me a link to an opportunity with RWE as a Wind Turbine Apprentice. That’s when I decided to try it out. Offshore wind really appeals to me because we’ll really need this energy source for the future.

Since Year 10, I’ve been interested in renewable energy, particularly offshore wind. Renewables were the focus of my GCSE Engineering project, which further sparked my curiosity. I’ve also been lucky enough to meet some amazing female role models from the industry, who’ve acted as mentors and pointed me towards opportunities I wouldn’t have otherwise found.

Q. What skills have you learnt so far during your apprenticeship?

I’m currently in my second year, and it has been a huge learning curve!

Firstly, moving to Chester for the college portion of the apprenticeship taught me how to be independent and manage life on my own.

Technically, I’ve gained skills in electrical installations, hydraulic systems, mechanical assembly, and welding. I’ve realised during the apprenticeship that I already had a lot of the basics from school, but seeing all this knowledge come together and applying it has been amazing.

I’ve also had offshore experience, like climbing turbines. It was a great opportunity to apply the skills I’ve developed so far and see the practical side of my training. I've still got quite a bit to learn but I’m proud of how far I’ve come!

Q. What has been your highlight of the programme?

One highlight was going offshore for the first time last summer and seeing what my future job could be like.

Another was being nominated for the Young Energy Professional Award and being the youngest person at the ceremony.

Going to the Awards as a nominee and meeting all the people in the industry was great. It was also inspiring to see really strong female role models on the stage. At the ceremony, questions were asked around how many people entered the industry through degrees vs. apprenticeships. It was great to see this balance, and how there are so many people who didn’t take the traditional degree route. This is very reassuring to me as a young apprentice.

Q. What has been the biggest challenge you have had to overcome?

The academic side, especially exams, has been one of the challenges for me. I didn’t sit GCSEs due to COVID-19, so these were some of my first significant exams. Exams are tricky for me as I think I’m more practical and hands on. Over time, I experimented with different techniques to find what worked for me. Progress checks and support from lecturers helped me improve, but overall, it was just about trial and error.

Q. Is there someone who has stood out as being particularly influential on your apprenticeship journey (perhaps a mentor)?

Before the apprenticeship, my mentor from Siemens Energy played a huge role. Since joining the apprenticeship, I’ve had great support from my guide group and leaders who helped me grasp and learn different skills. Living and working alongside peers also means that there’s always someone looking out for you.

Q. Have there been any unexpected opportunities that have arisen as a result of your apprenticeship?

WorldSkills has been an unexpected and rewarding opportunity. It’s basically the Olympics for technical skills. Whilst I never heard of it before, I got asked by my tutor whether I was interested and I just put my name forward.

Overall, it’s been amazing to be a part of the competition and learn extra engineering skills outside of the apprenticeship. For example, I was working on a very expensive but miniature version of a nacelle on the top of a turbine. A nacelle is a box-shaped housing that sits on top of a wind turbine tower and contains the turbine's generating components. It's considered the heart of the turbine.

When I did some of the assessments, I thought I wasn’t going to get through, telling myself that I can try again next year and focusing on learning as much as I can. But I ended up coming in second for the national finals, and I’m preparing for the WorldSkills Shanghai 2026 Competition which would be really exciting to be chosen for.

Q. What are your goals for the future?

I definitely want to work with wind turbines for a while, and being practical and hands on for as long as possible. I've seen different degree routes you can take, including one which requires you to slowly build a portfolio after which you can get a degree through the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), which I'm lucky enough to be a part of through RWE. I’d also like to be become a chartered engineer and am considering specialising in a specific area of turbine technology. My plans are flexible, but I’m excited about what lies ahead. I’m also very excited to start going offshore from this Summer.

Q. What advice would you like to give to applicants who are interested in an apprenticeship?

Be proactive and explore your interests. There are so many resources online, especially with many activities becoming virtual since lockdown. Platforms like the Girls’ STEM Society offer opportunities to connect with like-minded people, join hackathons, and learn more about different industries.

Because someone once helped me, I’m passionate about mentoring others. I’ve already encouraged a student to consider apprenticeships when his school didn’t present it as an option. Networking and seeking opportunities are key to success, and apprenticeships offer a great way to gain practical experience while working toward your goals.