A young Scottish engineer has been named as the Best of British Engineering at the Semta Skills Awards 2018, held in London at the beginning of the month.

Judith Mair, a 21-year-old apprentice at Rolls-Royce in Derby, also won the Apprentice of the Year award category, sponsored by MBDA UK Ltd.

Miss Mair said: “I am humbled and honoured to be named Best of British Engineering. I don’t feel I deserve
it because there are so many others out there who work hard for their companies.”

She left school in the Scottish village of Portknockie, Buckie, uncertain of her future and possible career choices.

Within three years, she has rapidly developed the skills necessary to act as a non-destructive testing (NDT) site controller, “demonstrating advanced competencies with an exceptional enthusiasm and commitment to learn and improve”.

As an ambassador of apprenticeships and engineering, Miss Mair has volunteered at numerous Rolls-Royce apprenticeship open evenings and skills festivals, hosted work-experience students, explained apprenticeships to scholarship students at the British Institute of NDT and represented the company at an event at The House of Commons.

Miss Mair added: “When I left school, I didn’t know how vast engineering was. Wherever you are from, I would really encourage you to go for it; there is always a new challenge around the corner in engineering.”

Semta CEO Ann Watson said: “Judith is a credit to the industry — a driven young engineer. She is an icon for other young people and hopes that national coverage of how she left a Scottish village for a renowned Rolls-Royce apprenticeship will inspire individuals from under-represented and diverse backgrounds to consider careers in this exciting sector.”