Gaby Eklid, Engineering Technician Apprentice with the AMRC, has made the shortlist in the Rotherham Council and Rotherham Advertiser annual awards.
The awards, currently in their tenth year, serve as a significant platform to acknowledge the achievements of exceptional apprentices and underscore the transformative potential of apprenticeships.
With the awards ceremony just around the corner on Thursday 17th July at New York Stadium, we caught up with Gaby, who is in her second year, to chat about her nomination, her daily routine, and her future aspirations.
How do you feel about being shortlisted for the Apprentice of the Year award?
I am really proud of myself and to also represent women in engineering and women technicians and proud to represent the Faculty and University.
You're on an apprenticeship at the moment, what does your day to day role consist of?
My day to day role consists of assisting MSc Project students with their projects and experiments. This includes designing and manufacturing parts and/or rigs, providing materials to work with, and/or carrying out geotechnical tests to complete their project work.
Who are your role models?
My role model is my mum because she leads by example showing kindness, strength and dedication. She has a strong work ethic which has inspired me to stay focussed and never give up. She treats everyone with respect and teaches me the importance of honesty and compassion.
What are your plans for the future?
I want to progress my career within the University, expanding my knowledge into different parts of engineering. This has become easier being part of a School as more labs have become available to me to access which I wouldn't have been able to before.
Gaby was nominated by her workplace coach, Catherine Adebayo-Ewunuga at the AMRC, who said: “I nominated Gaby for Apprentice of the Year because she consistently demonstrates maturity, professionalism, and a genuine passion for engineering. She approaches every task with a positive attitude and a proactive mindset, taking ownership of her learning and showing great resilience when faced with challenges.
What really stands out about Gaby is her willingness to support others, her commitment to developing both her technical and professional skills, and her ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic environment. She sets a strong example for other apprentices and is a credit to both the University of Sheffield AMRC and the apprenticeship programme.”