ENGINEER Lydia Feasey has been voted the top apprentice in her field.

Ms Feasey, 22, pictured, who works at Culham Centre for Fusion Energy (CCFE), was named 2013 Apprentice of the Year by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET), the world’s largest professional engineering society. Judges praised her for her outstanding technical ability and her ambassadorial role in schools, through volunteer work and as a role model.

She said: “I am very grateful for the support I have had throughout my apprenticeship which has enabled me to get to where I am today.

“I’m looking forward to putting everything I’ve learned into practice and building my future career.”

It is the second major honour for Ms Feasey, who recently graduated from the Culham apprenticeship scheme in just a few weeks.

Last month she scooped the Advanced Apprentice of the Year title at the regional Apprenticeship Awards. Now she has started working full time at the CCFE on projects to develop nuclear fusion as an energy source.

Steve Hall, who runs the apprenticeship programme at CCFE, said: “This is an outstanding result both for Lydia and the Culham Apprenticeship Scheme.

“Our apprenticeship model is producing high quality engineers and technicians to meet the future technical demands of fusion energy.”

IET president Barry Brooks added: “Lydia should be very proud. The award recognises she is one of the most exceptional young individuals working in her field.”