Carly Gayle named LCL Trainee of the Year

UK: Carly Gayle, one of Baxi’s newest F-gas engineers, has been named Trainee of the Year by awarding and certification organisation LCL Awards.

Gayle, who completed her LCL Awards’ F-gas course at Staffordshire Training Services, impressed the judges with her commitment to progressing in the building services sector and support of fellow trainees. Keen to future-proof her career, she is said to have embraced the opportunity with determination and a real enthusiasm for learning. 

Her course was funded by Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington’s Women in Skills Bootcamp.

“Carly’s attitude, proactive approach to learning and willingness to support others meant she excelled personally, but also as a source of encouragement to the other candidates,” said Staffordshire Training Services’ director Gareth Hassall. “She was open to sharing her own experiences, providing motivation and demonstrating that women have an important and growing role to play in the future of the industry.”

Describing her as “an asset to the business”, Baxi field team manager Lee Dowding was unsurprised by the award: “I see the recognition she receives regularly from colleagues, customers, installers and many others. She has worked so hard for everything she has achieved in her career as an engineer in the trade. 

Mark Krull, director for LCL Awards said that Gayle demonstrated exactly what it takes to succeed in this sector and was a great representative for women in the trades – a group that is still extremely under-represented. 

Carly Gayle can call on over 20 years’ experience in the sector, having started by helping her gas engineer father on the weekends as a teenager, completing a plumbing and heating apprenticeship after school, running her own business and now working as a Baxi field services engineer on heat pumps. 

“I am deeply grateful to receive this award and truly appreciate the recognition for expanding my expertise into this new area. I am eager to learn and adapt as much as possible for the industries transition into renewable energy,” Gayle said.

Amanda Colclough, Skills Bootcamp Cheshire & Warrington’s assistant quality and operations manager said: “Through the Women in Skills Bootcamp Carly embraced every opportunity, progressed into a specialist role and is now a fantastic ambassador for women in engineering and green skills! Her story really shows the impact Skills Bootcamps can have, creating opportunities, changing careers and helping people reach their potential, while also building the skilled workforce our region needs for the future.”

Staffordshire Training Services also won the top spot in LCL Awards’ Inclusivity category for ensuring “a welcoming and supportive learning environment for candidates from all walks of life”.