A BINFIELD apprentice has come second in a regional heat of SPARKS Female Skills Competition 2024.
Sarah Little, 39, is studying an Installation and Maintenance Electrician Level 3 Apprenticeship at Bracknell and Wokingham College, and at Progression Electrical.
She recently took part in the South Regional heat of the SPARKS Female Skills Competition 2024, at Bath College.
During the five-hour competition, contestants were asked to wire a consumer unit, following exact measurements from a drawing.
Contestants were given all the materials and asked to wire everything onto a board.
They had to include a ring-main to wire, two-way switches and an intermediate smoke alarm.
And the finished board had to be neat and tidy, with no copper showing.
Sarah said: “I was completely shocked to find out that I was the runner up.
“I didn’t expect to get anywhere as I was just going in for the experience and my teacher had talked me into it.
“It was very intense and nerve racking, as I’ve only been doing it for five months, and all the other competitors were in the third year of their apprenticeships, so I didn’t think that I would stand a chance.
“The time goes so quickly, you don’t realise how quickly it goes, but I managed to do the stretcher task as well, because I finished 45 minutes early.
“It was good to take part in the competition.
“ I’ve never met another female electrician and it’s good to know that there are others out there and not just you.”
Steve Butcher, Electrical Installation Lecturer/Assessor at Activate Learning said: “Sarah is an inspiration to us all, as she’s a single mum of three, a qualified PE teacher who after years of teaching in primary and secondary education wanted a career change.
“After only five months into her apprenticeship, she missed winning the heat by just two marks.”
Sarah will compete in the Grand Final, on Thursday, April 18, at Stephenson College, in Coalville, Leicestershire.
For more information, visit: www.bracknell.activatelearning.ac.uk, www.activateapprenticeships.co.uk, or call: 01865 551 015.
