Resilience and determination were key for one of our apprentices who has recently completed her Level 4 Quality Practitioner apprenticeship.
Ella Dixon achieved her apprenticeship with one of our Key Delivery Partners (KDPs) Balfour Beatty Kilpatrick (BBK), marking the end of a journey filled with learning, challenges, and resilience.
Her interest in the nuclear industry began while studying design, engineering and construction at the Energy Coast University Technical College (UTC), in Lillyhall.
A Dream Placement week with Balfour Beatty on the Box Encapsulation Plant (BEP) project introduced her to different roles, and quality stood out as the perfect fit.
Ella said: “I knew, from UTC, that I wanted to learn and develop into the nuclear industry as I always had an interest in this field.”
During her apprenticeship, Ella developed key skills in quality improvement, risk management and analysis techniques, helping her to identify potential issues and improve workplace efficiency.
However, the journey wasn’t without its difficulties. In August 2023, she was made redundant from James Fisher Nuclear and, just two months later, her boyfriend Lloyd sadly passed away.
Determination
Despite these setbacks, she showed incredible determination, resuming her apprenticeship with BBK in February 2024 and passing her End Point Assessment first time in December.
She credits her success to the unwavering support of her colleagues at James Fisher Nuclear, her manager Jane, and her team at BBK. She shared: “The time and effort my team put in to help me complete my apprenticeship was limitless.”
Outside of work, Ella finds peace in the mountains. Walking with her “Walk for Lloyd” family, she completed all 214 Wainwrights in tribute to her partner, raising £33,000 for the charity Meningitis Now. She continues to challenge herself, with the National Three Peaks next on her list.
Reflecting on her journey, her advice to future apprentices would be: “Never be afraid to ask questions, buddy up with a mentor, and always seek out different explanations until things make sense.”