A young woman is proving that being an electrical apprentice is not just a man’s game – she’s now in the running to be named the best apprentice in the North West region.
Charlotte Cullum-Fernandez from Barrow completed her apprenticeship for a local electrical services firm and was the only female apprentice on her course, surrounded by 15 men. She bucked the gender stereotype, however, and has been nominated for a regional award which celebrates the highest achieving young trainees in the area’s engineering industry.
Charlotte’s employer, Peter Trelore, told the North West Evening Mail: “Charley is incredibly capable and we always get great customer feedback about her. We selected Charley from around 20 potential apprentices back in 2009 and we haven’t looked back since.
“She repeatedly claimed the top spot in both practical and classroom-based assessments, she’s very well presented, creates a great impression and delivers an excellent standard of workmanship,” he added.
Miss Cullum-Fernandez, who is just 24, told the newspaper that she “enjoyed every minute” of her apprenticeship and was keen to see other young women get involved in the same sort of opportunity.
“I didn’t want to go to university, nor be office-based, so being an electrician is perfect for me,” Charlotte said. “I enjoy meeting lots of people and I love it that no two days are the same. People are often surprised to see me standing at their door rather than a man, but it always seems to be a pleasant surprise and plenty of customers now specifically ask for me!”