Nine apprentices from the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) have today been named the country’s apprentice team of the year, following a testing five-month Challenge that saw them compete against teams from the country’s leading apprentice employers and training providers.
The team, made up of apprentices from Culham Science Centre, near Oxford, battled off tough competition from seven other teams after proving their logistical, team building and communications skills and delivering a community project that involved volunteering with the Helen and Douglas House Hospice and taking part in a £35,000 fundraising drive.
The Brathay Apprentice Challenge is the search for the apprentice team of the year and supported by the National Apprenticeship Service. In 2016, teams reached out to young people to discuss apprenticeships and recruited over 400 new employers to offer apprenticeships as part of the Challenge.
The Logistical and Teambuilding Finale held at Brathay Trust’s headquarters tested the teams individual and group strength, both mentally and physically, and developed their leadership, team building and communication skills.
UKAEA narrowly beat HMRC Digital Newcastle into second place and HSBC who finished third. Teams from Apprenticeships Norfolk Network, Hampshire County Council, HMRC Surge and Rapid Repsonse, IBM and QinetiQ also competed in the National Finals.
Dr Neil Bentley, Chief Executive, WorldSkills UK said: “Congratulations to UKAEA and all the finalists who competed in The Brathay Apprentice Challenge. Their success really does send out a strong message that there has never been a better time to consider an apprenticeship.”
