FUTURE ELECTRICIAN FROM DUBLIN IS A SCREWFIX TRADE APPRENTICE FINALIST!

Lena Baldock, an aspiring Electrician from Dublin is in the national final of the annual Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2024 award.  

From over 1,800 initial applications, ten apprentices have made the grade and are heading to the two-day final in London in May. 

As well as competing for this prestigious award, which aims to highlight the hard work and dedication of trade apprentices across the UK and Ireland, Lena, 20, is focused on becoming a professional Electrician. Currently studying to be an electrician, she hopes to impress a panel of industry experts for a chance to be named the winner at the event on 3rd May.   

Lena was shortlisted for demonstrating her passion, dedication and ambition for their chosen trade, which shone through during the semi-finals. She is hugely passionate about her career and believes it’s important to step outside your comfort zone and be openminded. 

She said: “I’m overjoyed to have made it to this stage of Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2024! I’m so glad that my skills, dedication, and achievements have secured me a place in the national final. 

“I’m very proud to be representing the hard work and dedication of all trade apprentices and I’m looking forward to showcasing my passion in front of the renowned judges. To be crowned the winner would be a huge personal achievement and a highlight of my career.  

Alongside her apprenticeship, Lena also has her own digital design business which she is very passionate about. When Lena completes her apprenticeship, she would like to start up her own businesses but with a twist. Lena would like to create a space for people to open themselves up to the trade and would love to be able to offer people opportunities to work in the trade abroad. 

The Screwfix Trade Apprentice 2024 champion will receive a career boosting trade bundle of tools, trade and tech worth €10,000. This, alongside the coveted Screwfix Trade Apprentice title, is everything an apprentice needs to excel within their chosen career.  

This year’s judging panel includes representatives from the Chartered Institute of Plumbing and Heating Engineering, the Federation of Master Builders, the National Inspection Council of Electrical Installation Contracting along with Screwfix Top Tradesperson 2023 winner, Astrid Arnold. 

Jack Wallace, Marketing Director at Screwfix says: “As always, we have been blown away with the calibre of entries, and every one of the finalists have an incredible work ethic. It is no easy feat to make the final of this competition all whilst maintaining their study and work commitments. They should be extremely proud of making it this far. 

“It has never been more important to reward the fantastic work of our trade apprentices. As the industry skills gap continues to grow, highlighting the most rewarding and fulfilling aspects of the trade is vital to attracting new talent.

“Our previous winners have gone on to be trailblazers in their respective trades. I wish our 2024 finalists the best of luck and I’m sure they too will achieve great things.”