A TRAINEE electrician from Oxford is in the running to win an apprentice of the year award.

Katie Harvey, an apprentice at Darke & Taylor in Long Hanborough, is one of eight finalists from 540 applications in the NICEIC and ELECSA 2020 Electrical Apprentice of the Year competition.

She said: “I’m really happy that I got through to the final. I actually applied last year but didn’t make it as this far as I was still fairly new to the industry, so I really wanted to prove myself this year.”

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Simon Newton, from her employer, said: “Katie is exceptionally hard working, being a fantastic ambassador for young people and women in our industry. Reaching the finals of such a prestigious competition is a clear indication of both her skill and ambition.”

Applicants were first tasked with a 40-question online exam, with the top 20 per cent going on to partake in a two-hour written exam held at several locations across the UK.