14 Mar 2011
On the 10th March 2011, the nuclear stars of the future were announced during the third annual UK Nuclear Skills Awards Evening in Manchester organised by the National Skills Academy for Nuclear and Cogent Sector Skills Council.
The event was attended by over 300 Nuclear employers, training providers and key stakeholders who came together to celebrate the success and high achievement of the learners nominated for awards.
The top award of the evening was the heavily contested UK Nuclear Apprentice of the Year which was won by Sam Park, who also won the Northwest/Northeast Regional Nuclear Apprentice of the Year award. Sam Park who works for EDF Energy, Heysham, completed his apprenticeship in Electrical Engineering Maintenance with Springfields Apprentice Centre and Blackpool and The Fylde College.
The UK Nuclear Apprentice of the Year is decided from the Regional Nuclear Apprentice of the Year winners. The other Regional Apprentices of the Year were…
South East - Victoria Mitchell, who works for EDF Energy at Dungeness B. Victoria completed her apprenticeship in Control and Instrumentation and was the first female apprentice taken on at the Dungeness B site.
Southwest - Kirk Back, who works on the Hinkley Point B site for EDF Energy. Kirk completed his apprenticeship in Control and Instrumentation and has been supporting the training needs of the station by volunteering himself as a member of the Curriculum Review Committee.
Scotland - Callum Johnstone who works for EDF Energy on the Torness Site. Callum completed his apprenticeship in Control and Instrumentation and impressed his employer from the very start. Throughout his apprenticeship Callum has given every task 100% effort.
Wales - Peter Tiesteel who works for Doosan Babcock completed his apprenticeship in pipe fitting. His employer said that Peter is an advocate of training with the company and a natural mentor for new apprentices.
The Foundation Degree Student of the Year winner, Glen Caldock, currently works for Sellafield Ltd. Glen has recently completed a Foundation Degree in Nuclear Related Technology with GEN II and currently works as a Technical Specialist. One of the reasons that Glen stood out from other applicants for the award was due to the fact that he had worked hard to raise the profile of Foundation Degrees, which has resulted in 200 applications for the 15 places available on the course each year.
The Scottish HND Student of the Year award, was presented to Gary Weir who works for Dounreay Site Restoration Ltd as an Electrical Craftsman. Gary has worked in a variety of locations and off site placements where his work has always been to a very high standard. Gary is also a STEM ambassador and has attended various STEM projects throughout the area.
The Bursary Student of the Year was decided from applications from successful candidates of the Bursary run by the National Skills Academy for nuclear which has provided funding to 117 students for their chosen courses. The winner was Paul Hughes who in addition to working full time for Sellafield has been studying two Master of Science degrees. Paul has been a great advocate for the Bursary Award scheme and has actively promoted the scheme through word of mouth, and via social networking sites. Paul says that the bursary has been critical to his studies, “without it I would not have been able to undertake the course that I have chosen to do. In addition to the much appreciated financial aid, the emotional support of having the backing of the Skills Academy gives me the confidence in not only my own abilities and ambitions, but also the content of my studies also.”
The evening not only highlighted the achievement of the Nuclear Stars of the future, it also highlighted the hard work which is being undertaken by existing people within the Nuclear sector to help to raise the skills levels within their own organisations and for the sector itself. The Cogent award for Outstanding Leadership in Skills was awarded to Pat Kieran, a Senior Control & Instrument Engineer at Dounreay Site Restoration Limited. An example of his commitment is the organisation of a number of events to train STEM Ambassadors. This has resulted in around 100 STEM Ambassadors in the Caithness area alone. Most of these have been recruited as a result of Pat’s work and encouragement. Without this drive from Pat, there would be significantly fewer STEM Ambassadors in the area.
Jean Llewellyn, Chief Executive of the National Skills Academy for Nuclear said;
“The UK Nuclear Skills Awards highlights the exceptional quality of vocational learners, who are committed to careers in the nuclear sector. Apprenticeships and Foundation Degrees/HNDs are key avenues for replenishing and building skills for the nuclear sector. It is extremely important to highlight the real and tangible contributions which these students make to their organisations on a daily basis.
I would like to personally congratulate all of the winners, they are all examples of excellence in skills development and I wish them all the very best for the future”
Joanna Woolf, Chief Executive of Cogent Sector Skills Council;
“This was another fantastic night, showcasing and celebrating individual success. These awards, which attract the most outstanding applications from apprentices across the nuclear supply chain, allow us to highlight the talent and commitment that exists in this industry. Apprenticeships are delivering skills for the future and the people undertaking them are making an invaluable contribution in the workplace and importantly learning from the experienced people around them.”
Attached Picture features; back row left-right, Paul Hughes - Bursary Student of the Year, Callum Johnstone - Regional Apprentice of the Year Scotland, Victoria Mitchell - Regional Apprentice of the Year Southeast/East, Sam Park - UK Nuclear Apprentice of the Year, Gary Weir - HND Student of the Year (Scotland).
Front row left to right, Pat Keiran - Outstanding Leadership in Skills, Kirk Back-Regional Apprentice of the Year Southwest, Ben Avaient Finalist for the Regional Apprentice of the Year for the Southwest, Peter Tiesteel - Regional Apprentice of the Year Wales and Glen Caldock - Foundation Degree Student of the Year.
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