Live wire Victoria is top sparks

LIVE wire Victoria Dempsey has set sparks flying after being named as the UK’s best female apprentice electrician.

Victoria, who works for 2010 Rotherham, picked up her title at the Association for Public Service Excellence awards.

She’s not the only one forging ahead in a man’s world. 

Her 2010 colleague Emma Pryce an apprentice plumber and gas fitter, was one of the four finalists in the Female Plumbing Skills category.

2010 Rotherham's Learning and Development Officer Julia Cadman said: "It is great for our organisation to be recognised as having some of the best apprentices in the UK. “All our apprentices are talented and hard working, and are an asset to the customers on whose homes they work. 2010 Rotherham is hugely committed to supporting the development of our future generations.

“The fact we had two females in the final demonstrates the calibre of our apprentices and 2010 Rotherham's apprentice scheme."

2010 Rotherham was also honoured for its work in encouraging young people to take up trained apprenticeships in much needed construction skills.

Presenting the awards, the association’s assistant chief executive, Mark Bramah said: "These awards help us to recognise the vital contribution made by apprentices to the work of councils in helping to maintain and repair people's homes and civic buildings across the UK.”

Victoria was one of four winning apprentices at the award ceremony, which took place in Stoke on Trent and was attended by public sector representatives.

The categories were Male Building Skills, Male Mechanical and Electrical, Female Building and Electrical, Female Plumbing Skills.

2010 Rotherham currently has 37 apprentices. At the end of the apprenticeship programme, the trainees are fully fledged tradespeople and are expected to be able to work on their own completing the work of a skilled tradesperson.

All apprenticeships within 2010 Rotherham are qualified to level 3, as opposed to the standard level 2 which most companies offer.

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