Dumfries and Galloway college student hopes electrical engineering apprentice encourages other women

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Dumfries and Galloway College student is hoping her success as an electrical engineering apprentice can spark other females to take the same path.Milly Smith, 19, from Castle Douglas, is celebrating after being named as the Scottish First Stage Apprentice of the Year 2022.She is studying for her Electrical Installation SVQ at the Dumfries campus and has been winning plaudits and praise every step of the way.Her success and dedication is being hailed by the college as “a real inspiration to other females looking for a career in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics)”.Currently employed by family-owned McKerlie Electrical – headed by her father, Alan – Milly won the apprentice of the year title in 2021/2022 at the college.And she has since gone on to achieve wider acclaim as the top first-year apprentice — firstly, in the west sector of colleges and then followed by winning the gold award nationally.A delighted Milly, who is studying under a Scottish Electrical Charitable Training Trust scheme, said: “During my school years I always really enjoyed physics and maths and was keen to go into a career in this field.“After spending time helping my dad in the family business, I decided this was the career I wanted to follow.

I am really enjoying the daily challenge of working as an electrical apprentice and the fact that every day is different.“I was delighted to be awarded Scottish First Stage Apprentice of the Year 2022 and hope my success can inspire others to follow their own paths and not listen to others trying to steer them in other directions.”College Principal Joanna Campbell said: “Milly is a real credit to herself, her family and her vocation.