A worker at Barrow’s BAE Systems has been named Apprentice of the Year in prestigious national awards.
Kaylee McIssac won the accolade at the Enginuity Skills Awards in London.
Kaylee, a plant maintenance electrical engineer apprentice, was recognised for her commitment, innovative thinking and engineering skills.
Kaylee impressed the judges with her resilience, having lost her father a year-and-a-half into her apprenticeship; her superior skills; and the extracurricular activities she takes on as a STEM ambassador.
Kaylee has contributed towards the design of BAE Systems plc’s new Academy for Skills and Knowledge, a new campus at the University of Cumbria and a vocational training centre on the site of several vacant retail spaces in Barrow-in-Furness; helping to increase the number of apprentices BAE Systems plc can take on each year, while offering learning opportunities to the local community.
As vice chair on BAE Systems Apprenticeship Council, Kaylee has offered advice and shared her experience with other apprentices.
Kaylee said: “My apprenticeship has benefited me in so many ways. It has helped me become a more proactive person, thinking outside the box, stepping out of my comfort zone, and always taking on new opportunities.
“It has given me skills I can use in my everyday life, as well as on the job, such as communication skills, health and safety, strategic vision, resilience, and problem
solving. These skills have opened many doors for me.
“I have a lot of different ambitions. A lot of people feel like this is a male-dominated industry and I have tried to break that by talking about my story since joining BAE Systems. It means the absolute world to win this award because it would help me show young girls in the community what females can do in a craft apprenticeship.”
Gary Miles, early careers development leader at BAE Systems, added: “Kaylee was an easy nomination because ever since I interviewed her, she has dedicated herself to getting the maximum out of her apprenticeship and giving the maximum amount back in terms of being involved in everything from recruitment videos to being the vice chair on the Apprenticeship Council.”
Ann Watson, chief executive of Enginuity, said: “At Enginuity, we want to help employers inspire and engage young people with the careers available in engineering and manufacturing.
“Kaylee is a great example of this in practice, having become a STEM ambassador and consistently engaging in activities to benefit current and future apprentices.
“Winning the Large Employer Apprentice of the Year Award is a huge achievement and shows Kaylee is undoubtedly one of the best apprentices in UK engineering and manufacturing.”
