On 24 February, two of our apprentices had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Catapult Network parliamentary reception.  The event held at the House of Commons gave Sam Gilbraith and Oliver Flather-Brown the chance to hear from MPs and meet Catapult colleagues who are committed to building industries of the future and creating new jobs. 

“Attending the Innovate UK Catapult Network Parliamentary Reception was an invaluable experience. The day began with a memorable tour of Parliament, providing us with a unique opportunity to explore this iconic institution.

The event itself was opened by Lord Liddle and featured insightful speeches from several key figures, including Chi Onwurah MP, Chair of the Science, Innovation & Technology Committee, Alan Mak MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Science, Innovation & Technology, Stella Peace, Interim Executive Chair of Innovate UK and Guy Newey, CEO of Energy Systems Catapult and Chair of the Innovate UK Catapult Network.

Hearing from these influential leaders offered valuable insights into the diverse sectors within the Catapult Network and highlighted its significant impact on advancing technology and innovation globally.

The reception also provided an excellent platform for networking with MPs, CEOs, and fellow apprentices, allowing us to share stories, learn from one another, and build meaningful connections”.  Oliver Flather-Brown (WM Lee Ltd)

“Having the opportunity to represent William Lee and the AMRC training centre in parliament was amazing. It was great to meet the leaders and organisers who work on improving our industry and the education needed to start a successful career in advanced manufacturing and engineering. It was good to meet apprentices from other Catapult groups to see how they are also learning and developing their skillsets, similar to ours which goes to show that apprenticeship schemes are the best opportunity to learn academically and in industry”.  Sam Gilbraith (WM Lee Ltd)