BAE Systems apprentices qualify for national skills competition

Of the seven BAE Systems apprentices who have qualified to compete in the WorldSkills UK national final, five of them ply their trade in Lancashire.

The competition will see some of the country’s top apprentices and students from different career paths ranging from machining and tiling to floristry compete in a number of challenges.

The apprentices made it to the final after passing two challenging regional qualifiers. The finals will take place between 14 and 18 November across venues in Barking & Dagenham, Belfast Met, Blackpool & The Fylde, Cardiff & Vale, Edinburgh and Middlesbrough College.

The finalists will then stand the chance of representing the UK at the 'Skills Olympics' in France in 2024.

The Lancashire cohort representing BAE Systems are Ethan Elliott, machine apprentice, Ella Fairclough, engineering apprentice, Tobias Jones, engineering apprentice, Adam Leech, finance apprentice, and George Shorrock, accountancy apprentice. All are based at BAE's Warton site.

Adam Leech said: “It’s great to be selected for the national final, having gone through two rounds of qualifiers. The second round was particularly tough with some more complex accounting tasks under very tight time pressure.

"I’m looking forward to representing BAE Systems, showing that we not only have some of the best engineers in the country but also a world class finance function. And, of course, being very competitive, I’m looking forward to the challenge and hopefully coming out on top.”

Currently, BAE Systems is training over 3,000 apprentices – more than at any other time in the Company’s history. BAE will also be sponsoring the WorldSkills UK North-West competition at Blackpool and Fylde College.

Tania Gandamihardja, group human resources Director at BAE Systems, said: “It’s a great honour for our apprentices to be chosen to represent the company in a prestigious competition such as WorldSkills UK. Our apprentices come from a wide range of backgrounds and represent the many different roles on offer to young people across the UK.”