Fylde apprentice is tops

Joanne Sharples a project control foundation scheme apprentice from BAE Systems’ Military Air and Information business, was named the Higher Apprentice of the Year at the SEMTA Skills Awards 2016.

Joanne was awarded the prize in front of an audience of industry leaders in London.

Currently, Joanne, who is from St Annes and worked at Warton, is part of the project management team based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire supporting the UK RAF to ensure its Eurofighter Typhoon fleet is ready for action around-the-clock.

Joanne said: “When I was choosing what I wanted to do in my career, I never considered working for an engineering business as a route for me but it was one of my teachers who drove me to look in to it.

“That led me to speak with someone who worked for BAE Systems about the job they did and I was inspired to look in to it and I have never looked back.

“More than half of the apprentices who complete the PCFS do so with a first-class honours degree and experience working on some really interesting programmes.

“I would urge people to look at what the engineering industry can give you as a career, I did and I never looked back.”

As part of her five-year apprenticeship, she has worked in a range of teams across military air and information, including being part of the team behind the first unmanned flight over the UK in 2013.

In January, BAE Systems announced plans to recruit more than 680 apprentices in September including a record number on higher and degree level programmes. The deadline for applications closes on Monday, February 29. Visit www.baesystems.com/apprenticeships