Leyland apprentice Rebecca recognised in manufacturing awards

By TWA Marketing and Communications

23 Aug 2021

rebecca-wood.jpg

Leyland Trucks’ first ever female prototype apprentice has been crowned the Apprentice of the Year at the 2021 Made in the North West Awards.

Recognised for her trailblazing attitude to engineering and ability to inspire other females to enter the sector, Rebecca Wood (21) beat three other competitors to take the accolade at a ceremony held at the Lowry Hotel, Manchester.

Rebecca joined Leyland Trucks as a fabrication apprentice in 2016, having recently left school. She completed her fabrication qualification in August 2020 before moving into the company’s design department in January 2021. She’s since been promoted to chassis design engineer and is currently undertaking a master’s degree in engineering management.

The Made in the North West Awards acknowledges and celebrates the cream of North West manufacturing, recognising businesses that are amongst the most pioneering and dynamic in the world.

Speaking of her win, Rebecca said: “I’m shocked and extremely honoured to have received this award, and to be recognised alongside some outstanding individuals and businesses that make UK manufacturing what it is today.

“As soon as I stepped foot inside Leyland Trucks HQ all those years ago, I knew I wanted to work here. From day one, I’ve received incredible support from people who’ve been as passionate about my progression as I am, who’ve instilled confidence in me and who have worked hard to bring out my full potential. Even though I’m no longer an apprentice, I’m still inundated with opportunities to develop my skills and grow as a person and professional. My focus now is on ensuring other young women like me are offered the opportunity I was to pursue such an exciting career path.

“I have dedicated my award to Syd Zinga, my former mentor at Leyland Trucks who inspired me and so many other people by sharing his amazing knowledge of manufacturing and passed on his well-honed skills. Very sadly, Syd passed away of COVID-19 earlier this year, so I want to continue inspiring younger generations of engineers just as he did so that his legacy lives on. I wouldn’t be where I am today without him, and I know he would be very proud of me.”

Stuart Derbyshire, prototype manager at Leyland Trucks, and who was Rebecca’s manager when she was an apprentice, said: “Since the moment we met Rebecca we knew she would do incredible things for herself, for our organisation and for the many other female apprentices who want to break into this sector.

“Her progression through the ranks over the last five years is testament to her dedication and passion, and we are incredibly proud that one of our own has been recognised in this competitive category at the awards. We have true belief in Rebecca’s potential to make big waves across our industry, and we look forward to seeing her flourish.”

Latest news

1

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University Keir Starmer meets Indian PM and included Prof Simon Guy Lancaster University. Pic Simon Dawson

New India branch campus on the horizon for Lancaster University

09 Oct 2025

2

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026 Best Events and Talented students on Lancashire Tourism Awards finalist list

Best events and talented students complete finalists list for Lancashire Tourism Awards 2026

09 Oct 2025

3

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards Andrew Dewhurst with the award win

East Lancashire Learning Group named UK digital transformation leader in CIO 100 Awards

09 Oct 2025

4

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool Jason Davenport PHX Training

PHX Training appoints new business leader in Blackpool

09 Oct 2025

5

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m Velocity Composites Has Announced Its Entry Into The Us Market

Velocity seals Airbus extension worth up to $54m

08 Oct 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

Help to grow management course
Help to grow - barriers to growth.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
26 Sep 2025 - 16 Dec 2025

Help to grow management course

Preston Campus , Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 15:00

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th
Ai 10.10.png.png
LBV Hub Seminars
10 Oct 2025 - 10 Oct 2025

Advantage: AI – A Workshop for Business Leaders – Oct 10th

Door4 Office, Burnley Wharf, Burnley, BB11 1JG

09:00 - 12:00

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West
Lancs-cham-logo.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

Unlocking major project opportunities in the North West

Strathmore Hotel, Morecambe, LA4 5AP

08:00 - 10:00

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials
EventBrite NORi - 15th Oct 2025 Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
15 Oct 2025 - 15 Oct 2025

The New Employee Rights Landscape: Day One Compliance Essentials

Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Teams, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Header (26).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

October Freelancer Meet-Up
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

October Freelancer Meet-Up

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine
LBV Advert_Autumn Reset 1200 x 630px.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Oct 2025 - 16 Oct 2025

The Autumn Re set - pour me a wine

The Artistry House , Preston , PR1 3JJ

17:30 - 19:30

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues
EventBrite NORi - 22nd Oct Webinar.png.png
LBV Hub Webinar
22 Oct 2025 - 22 Oct 2025

HR Essentials for pubs, bars and licensed venues

Online - Teams, Leyland, PR253XH

13:30 - 15:00

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women
thumbnail_Emma Weston Illustration WENDY BOWERS RISE Illustrstion.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 18 Mar 2026

RISE - Lancashire's unique leadership programme for women

East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce, Clayton le Moors, BB5 5JR

09:30 - 15:30

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
LBV Hub Seminars
22 Oct 2025 - 09 Jan 2026

Women scaling up Blackpool Fylde and Wyre

The Small Business Academy, Blackpool, FY4 5JX

09:30 - 15:30

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV124 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin