Last updated 18:04, Sunday, 23 November 2008

BRIGHT spark Daisy Clark was honoured with a highly commended award at a national ceremony following her remarkable comeback from serious injury.

WITH WORDS BY NATALIE CHAPPLES; COMMENDED: Daisy Clark, from Millom, a bright apprentice who just wouldn't give up. Top, Daisy in normal working garb, and right, receiving her award from Amanda HoldenMILTON HAWORTH REF: 0420198

BRIGHT spark Daisy Clark was honoured with a highly commended award at a national ceremony following her remarkable comeback from serious injury.

The Millom electrician was a finalist at the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) Apprenticeship Awards 2008 in the Personal Achiever of the Year category.

The 21-year-old, who works at Sellafield, has been hailed as an excellent role model. The determined young woman completed her electrical advanced apprenticeship ahead of time, despite breaking her back in a car crash and being off work for seven months.

Daisy, from Newton Street, also sustained chest, head and leg injuries in the 2006 collision. She was not able to return to her on the job training, but she returned did go back to Sellafield’s onsite training centre, still wearing a back brace and on crutches, just three months after the crash.

She was nominated for the LSC award by her JTL Training Officer, Gary Hodgkison, and employer Balfour Kilpatrick Ltd, for her perseverance and determination to complete the apprenticeship.

Daisy won the Cumbria and the North West Personal Achiever of the Year awards. She then went on to receive a highly commended award at the national LSC final.

It was presented by TV star Amanda Holden, a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, at London’s Royal Horticultural Halls in July.

Daisy said: “I am really delighted to be a finalist in such prestigious awards. I had a fantastic time at the ceremony in London. I’ve had fantastic support from everyone involved, helping me through the regional awards and the final. It’s been a great experience.and I would definitely do it all over again.”

The former Millom School student said it has been was a hectic two years and she feels proud of what she has achieved with the support from her family, training officer and colleagues.

Her training officer, Mr Hodgkison said: “Daisy overcame her challenges to achieve her goal of being a qualified electrician. She was an obvious choice to be entered into the competition and I knew she would do well.

“Her hard work and determination to succeed was recognised and she is a commendable finalist. It is great to see Daisy in the spotlight as she would normally shy away from the attention. JTL is delighted to have such an inspirational apprentice and I am sure she will go far.”

Amanda Holden said: “I’m so happy to have been involved in this year’s Apprenticeship Awards; they’ve shown me that apprenticeships can help us unlock England’s talent and having judged various people’s talent for a while now, I can say I’m truly honoured to have been part of this particular ceremony.”

John Korzeniewski, regional director of LSC in the North West, said: “The awards have been a great opportunity to recognise the dedication and success of not only the winning apprentices, but all apprentices across the North West. The apprenticeship programme gives people and businesses real opportunities to succeed, with enthusiastic young people and dynamic employers teamed with a supportive delivery system. The awards have highlighted this success, showing what a real difference Apprenticeships can provide.”

Through her JTL apprenticeship Daisy achieved an NVQ Level Three in electrical installation and a BTEC in engineering.

Daisy is now working towards an HNC in electronic engineering. She is looking forward to building on her success and focusing on a future career in electrical design.

The JTL apprenticeship schemes are funded for young people between the ages of 16 to 24. They are an entry route into the building servicesengineering sector.