More than 140 apprentices have graduated from 21 diverse schemes such as engineering design, health physics monitoring and business administration.

The graduation ceremony, held at Whitehaven Golf Club, signals an exciting new chapter in their careers as they enter full-time employment with the company.

They will apply their new qualifications, as well as the variety of skills and the valuable experiences that they have picked up during their apprenticeship, to the workplace.

Project Management Apprentice, Andrew Bennett, claimed the top accolade, collecting the Rexel UK Community Award for his contribution to the community during his apprenticeship.

Andrew said:

I’m delighted to pick up this award. I feel very fortunate to have taken part in an excellent apprenticeship with Sellafield Ltd, and wanted to give something back to the community. I’ve therefore given talks in schools about the benefits of apprenticeships, and been involved in recruitment drives including a live radio broadcast to 560 students.

The next step for me is working in infrastructure projects for the IT department at Sellafield.

Some of the other winners were Jodi Hall, Carl Lesley and Jackson Sharpe, who all collected Sellafield Workbook Awards.

The event opened with a range of influential speakers, including the company’s CEO, Paul Foster, former Chief Executive of Gen2, Mike Smith OBE, and Donna Connor, head of training and skills for Sellafield Ltd. They offered motivational advice to the apprentices.

Paul Foster told the young audience:

This is the first phase of your career and there is no limit to what you can achieve. You are the future of the business and the industry.

Copeland MP and Apprenticeship Ambassador Trudy Harrison attended the event, along with Workington MP Sue Hayman. They praised the company’s training programme for demonstrating the outstanding talent and vital skills we can develop in the area.

Trudy Harrison said:

Sellafield Ltd continues to play a crucial role in the recruitment and development of our young people.

Also, as an advocate for diversity in the work place, I’m delighted to hear that once again the company is training an impressive number of female engineers and scientists who I’m sure will have a successful career in the industry.

Sue Hayman said:

It’s important for the future success of the area that we continue to provide opportunities for our young people. Training providers such as Gen2, local universities and colleges, in partnership with Sellafield Ltd and its supply chain are playing a vital part in their development.

Gavin Williamson welcomed his counterpart, His Excellency Khalid bin Mohammad Al Attiyah, to London. They spoke about the future of the defence relationship, underpinned by the recently agreed partnership on a Joint Typhoon Squadron and Qatar’s acquisition of the aircraft.

Regional security and the furthering of defence collaboration and dialogue across the Gulf, in the face of mutual threats to security and stability, was also discussed.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

Our two nations enjoy extremely strong links. From the coalition air campaign headquarters in Qatar, we work together to stamp out the threat from Daesh. We trade together, significantly boosting the British economy, and it is vital that we continue to forge this relationship to ensure the mutual safety of our people.

As part of his visit to the UK, the Qatari Defence Minister also visited BAE Systems sites in Warton and Samlesbury to cut steel, officially marking the start of production on the first Typhoon fighter jets. Qatar’s acquisition of Typhoon will see the first aircraft will be delivered to the Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) in 2022. Qatar’s deal to purchase the Typhoon and Hawk recently achieved contract effectiveness, supporting BAE Systems, its nearly 35,000 employees and the 9,000 companies in its supply chain.

The deal, representing a distinct and tailored package will see the Royal Air Force and QAAF working together in a new Typhoon Joint Squadron. This unique partnership was marked by the visit to the UK by His Highness the Amir of Qatar in July, and his participation in a ceremony marking the reformation of 12 Squadron as the new Joint Squadron.

The joint squadron will initially be based in the UK, comprising of pilots and ground crew, based at RAF Coningsby. This represents a unique initiative, which will allow QAAF to familiarise themselves with the aircraft ahead of delivery. Not since the Battle of Britain has the UK formed a squadron with another nation and this new partnership will help forge lasting bonds between the RAF and their Qatari counterparts.

Qatar is the ninth country to purchase the Typhoon, with the deal sustaining thousands of jobs. The UK is a world-leader in the combat air sector, with a mix of skills and technologies unique in Europe. The sector delivers a turnover of more than £6bn a year and has made up over 80% of defence exports from the UK over the last ten years.

Wilhelmina LT60 is a British registered 35 metre fishing vessel operated by a Dutch company and master, which primarily targets plaice and Dover sole in the North Sea. The court heard that enforcement checks of the vessel’s statutory documentation showed that it had exceeded the permitted 10% margin of tolerance in its fishing logbook on 41 occasions. Six charges were brought before the court and the defendants asked for the other 35 offences to be taken into consideration.

The vessel owner Wilhelmina Beheer B.V. and skipper Jelle Toering both pleaded guilty to all charges and offences.

Wilhelmina Beheer B.V. was fined £3,000 for each offence (£18,000 in total), £2,000 in costs and a victim surcharge of £170. Jelle Toering was fined £1,295 for each offence, (£7,770 in total), £500 in costs and a victim surcharge of £170.

A spokesperson for the MMO said:

The outcome of this enforcement action shows that non-compliance with the requirement to submit an accurate electronic logbook will be detected and dealt with appropriately, with the offending company facing fines in appropriate circumstances.

In cases like this the MMO will always take proportionate and appropriate action, including prosecution, to ensure offenders do not benefit from illegal activity and to protect fish stocks for the wider fishing industry and future generations.