Our amazing apprentices are world-beating

Today, I want to talk about pride. I’ve just returned from a week in Ohio, where I had the privilege of watching one of our amazing Themis apprentices, Kieran McShane, compete in the finals of WorldSkills, the global standard in skills excellence for young people.

It was a great experience: one which filled me with immense pride.

At the end of a tough few days of intense competition, Kieran may not have stood on the medals platform. But he represented the UK with integrity, with professionalism and with pride.

Kieran’s an apprentice construction metal worker at one of our great Lancashire employers, WEC, and he certainly did them proud. He showed off some inspirational skills in the welding bay, giving the competition 100 per cent and showing incredible resilience. I know his colleagues were behind him all the way.

As were the team here at Themis at Burnley College. What an amazing boost it gave us.

Kieran’s inspired his fellow apprentices at all stages of their journey; raised aspirations and he’s shown himself to be an incredible, humble role model.

Kieran is one of the top eight young construction metal workers in the world. What an achievement. What a future Kieran has ahead of him.

I’m so proud of everything our Themis apprentices achieve on a daily basis in employment. Whether it’s innovating new processes to improve efficiency in the workplace; impacting the bottom line through taking a look at existing working  practices with fresh eyes; bringing the very latest skills and knowledge and boosting morale and energy.

To see an apprentice recognised on the global stage is fitting. It’s an opportunity for us to take a closer look at all our amazing apprentices and see just what they are achieving every day. They may not have the international fanfare - and Champagne celebration - of Kieran, but they should be recognised for the impact they make each and every day as they strive to be the very best they can be and build their careers.

Well done, Kieran. You made me, Burnley College and Lancashire incredibly proud. You truly showed the power of the Themis apprentice.