An apprentice from Lincolnshire County Council has won the prestigious Royal Town Planning Institute 'East Midlands Young Planner of the Year' award.
Emily Anderson (20) from Lincoln, works in the council's planning team, based in Lincoln, and works on major infrastructure projects.
Talking about her achievement, Emily said: "I'm absolutely delighted to have won the award. When I left school, I wanted to find a career which combined my passion for the environment with my love of spaces, people and culture. I'm so pleased I chose a planning apprenticeship! I never thought I would be the best in the East Midlands! Amazing! Being on the Council's apprentice scheme has been brilliant and certainly put me in the best possible place for the future."
Emily joined the County Council's to undertake a town planning apprenticeship programme two years ago, from sixth form in Gainsborough where she studied Maths, Physics and Geography.
She added: "I've always been fascinated how our towns become towns, and now I get the opportunity to make a real difference. Now that I have completed my initial apprenticeship, I have now enrolled onto a Level 7 apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam University, which I am really excited about."
Neil McBride, head of planning at Lincolnshire County Council, said: "I'm so pleased for Emily. It is a real testament to her hard work, fantastic understanding of planning and her positive attitude that the judges gave her this award. We are delighted to have her in our team.
"Apprentices really add so much to our authority – helping us to challenge, grow and change. We have lots of opportunities for enthusiastic, driven, hard-working and ambitious people, in all departments in the Council."
Natalie Holbrook, head of apprenticeships at Lincolnshire County Council, added: “The Council’s apprenticeship scheme is a wonderful example of us growing our own talent right here in Lincolnshire. Currently, we have over 150 employees, of all ages, who are working towards formal qualifications, whilst gaining valuable work experience. This is across all areas of the Council, including social work, civil engineering, law and education and, of course, planning, amongst others.
“I would like to congratulate Emily and wish her the best of luck as she undertakes her Town Planning Degree Apprenticeship at Sheffield Hallam University and hope she has a long and happy career that grows from strength to strength.”
For more information about apprenticeships, visit www.lincolnshire.gov.uk