Apprentice of the Year

• Individual nominated: Niamh Lyons 
• Organisation: Lowther Homes 

Statement of support

Lowther Homes is delighted to nominate Niamh Lyon for the Scotland Housing Awards Apprentice of the Year award in recognition of her outstanding commitment to learning, professional development, and the significant contribution she has made to the organisation throughout her apprenticeship journey. 

Niamh's journey with Lowther Homes began before she started her apprenticeship, having first joined the organisation through the Summer Work Placement Programme. During her placement, she quickly developed a passion for the work carried out by Lowther Homes and gained valuable insight into the opportunities available within the housing sector. Her experience was so positive that she applied for the Modern Apprenticeship programme later that same year, demonstrating her enthusiasm and determination to build a career within the organisation.  

Since joining Lowther Homes, Niamh has consistently demonstrated enthusiasm, professionalism, and a genuine commitment to developing her knowledge and skills. Balancing her college studies alongside the demands of a busy operational role, she has approached every opportunity with a positive attitude and a determination to succeed. Her eagerness to learn and willingness to take on new challenges have enabled her to develop rapidly, becoming a highly valued and trusted member of the commercial team. 

Throughout her apprenticeship, Niamh has developed a comprehensive understanding of the commercial assistant role and has quickly built experience across a diverse range of commercial and operational activities. Her responsibilities have included supporting the administration of shared ownership and resale transactions, processing new account set-ups, managing a wide variety of customer and business administration requests, and coordinating customer works through the Astra Q system. Through these activities, she has developed strong organisational skills, attention to detail, and a thorough understanding of key business processes that support the delivery of excellent customer service. 

What particularly distinguishes Niamh is her ability to learn quickly and confidently take ownership of new tasks. She has consistently demonstrated a willingness to broaden her knowledge and support colleagues across the team, becoming a dependable and trusted member of the department. Her proactive approach and ability to manage a varied workload have enabled her to make a meaningful contribution while continuing to develop her own skills and experience. 

Niamh has also demonstrated a strong commitment to continuous improvement and personal development. She consistently seeks feedback, embraces new learning opportunities, and applies her learning in practice. Her positive attitude and willingness to support others have enabled her to build strong relationships across Lowther Homes and the wider Wheatley Group. 

Her achievements throughout her apprenticeship have been recognised through her successful progression into a permanent role as a commercial assistant within Lowther Homes. Securing this position is a significant achievement and reflects the skills, knowledge, and confidence she has developed throughout her apprenticeship. It is also testament to the positive contribution she has made to the team and the trust placed in her by colleagues and managers. 

Niamh embodies the values of Wheatley Group and Lowther Homes through her professionalism, customer focus, commitment to learning, and willingness to support others. She has consistently demonstrated maturity beyond her experience, taking pride in her work and striving to deliver the highest standards in everything she does. 

Her successful completion of her qualification Level 5 SVQ Business and Admin, the practical skills she has developed, and her progression into a substantive role within the organisation are clear examples of achievement and attainment in learning. Niamh's journey highlights the impact apprentices can have when given the opportunity to develop, grow, and succeed, making her an exceptional candidate for Apprentice of the Year. 

Outcomes and achievements

Key achievements 

• Successfully completed her college qualification
• Developed a comprehensive understanding of the commercial assistant role
• Supported the administration of shared ownership and resale transactions
• Developed expertise in setting up and maintaining customer and tenancy accounts
• Managed a wide range of customer and business administration requests
• Coordinated customer works and enquiries through the Astra Q system
• Built strong working relationships across Lowther Homes and the wider Wheatley Group
• Demonstrated a proactive approach to learning and continuous professional development
• Consistently applied learning in the workplace to improve performance and customer outcomes
• Secured a permanent role as commercial assistant within Lowther Homes
• Consistently demonstrated Wheatley values, professionalism, and a positive attitude to learning
• Made a significant contribution to the commercial team through her commitment, reliability, and customer-focused approach. 

"Niamh has been an exceptional apprentice and a fantastic addition to the commercial team. She has embraced every opportunity to learn, developed a broad understanding of our business processes, and consistently demonstrated a positive and professional attitude. Niamh quickly became a trusted member of the team, supporting a wide variety of commercial activities while balancing her studies and workplace commitments. Her progression into a permanent commercial assistant role is thoroughly deserved and reflects the commitment, skills, and potential she has shown throughout her apprenticeship journey." 

Yvonne Reilly, Performance, Compliance and Innovation Manager, Lowther Homes 

• Individual nominated: Declan McQuade 
• Organisation: Homes for Good 

Statement of support

Declan McQuade’s journey to becoming a qualified plumber and gas engineer exemplifies resilience, determination and a genuine commitment to delivering high-quality work – qualities that have made him a valued member of the Homes for Good team.   

Declan began his apprenticeship with a Glasgow-based plumbing company, but 10 months into his apprenticeship, the company restructured, and its apprentices were let go. Undeterred, Declan took the initiative to post on a trades Facebook group asking for an opportunity to continue his apprenticeship.   

Homes for Good founder Susan Aktemel saw this post and offered Declan the opportunity to continue his apprenticeship with Homes for Good, pairing him with Gas Engineer and Renovations Coordinator, Declan Early, who has mentored him over the past two and a half years.   

From his very first day, Declan embraced every opportunity to learn. He was immediately involved in a complex boiler installation and since then has developed skills across plumbing, heating systems, compliance and Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) while working towards his gas engineer qualification.  

Throughout his apprenticeship, Declan has consistently demonstrated a willingness to learn. Rather than simply observing, he asks questions, seeks feedback and looks for solutions.   

Declan Early: “He’s shown great initiative from day one and always wants to get stuck in. He’s constantly asking questions and looking to learn. I can also absolutely trust him to get on with things.”   

His development has also impressed our Repairs and Compliance Manager, Annette Hanna.  

“He’s a really hard worker and willing to do whatever it takes to fulfil the role. He makes the most of every opportunity to develop as a plumber and engineer. Sometimes, he can diagnose faults quicker than the other Declan, which is testament to how well he’s progressed.”  

Working in tenants’ homes requires far more than technical ability. Many Homes for Good tenants have experienced homelessness, poor housing or other significant life challenges. Repairs are often carried out during stressful situations, requiring patience, empathy and excellent communication skills.   

Declan consistently demonstrates Homes for Good’s values and its commitment to kindness, honesty and respect. He explains repairs clearly, reassures tenants and understands the importance of treating every home as someone’s safe space. During gas safety inspections, for instance, the repairs team take time to explain essential safety information in a way tenants can easily understand.  

His mentor, Declan, has seen him handle these situations with professionalism.   

“You need to strike the right balance between being friendly and explaining things clearly. Sometimes repairs take longer than expected and tenants become frustrated. I trust Declan to handle those situations and put people at ease.”  

Declan also uses creativity and initiative to diagnose faults and find practical solutions to complex repairs. On one recent occasion, while investigating an unusual toilet fault, he quickly identified the fill valve as a cause. He regularly contributes ideas for repairs and boiler installations, helping the team find solutions.   

Beyond this, Declan often goes above and beyond for tenants, helping move furniture, assisting a housebound tenant to reconnect their television – their lifeline – and simply taking the time to ask how someone is doing. These small acts reflect the person-centred ethos of Homes for Good and demonstrate a maturity beyond his years.   

Despite balancing his work with Homes for Good with his studies, Declan has remained one of the strongest performers in his class. His willingness to learn and commitment to improvement have also helped him become a valued member of the Homes for Good team. With his gas engineering qualification within reach, he continues to demonstrate the skills and compassion that make him an outstanding example of an apprentice in the housing sector. 

Outcomes and achievements

Over the course of his apprenticeship, Declan has progressed from a trainee plumber into a trusted member of Homes for Good’s repairs and compliance team who is now carrying out plumbing repairs independently.  

He has successfully passed his plumbing qualification and is preparing to complete his final gas engineering exams in November, which will enable him to work as a fully qualified gas engineer. Alongside this, he has completed training to carry out EPCs and has worked to expand his knowledge of energy efficiency and to help improve the environmental performance of tenants’ homes. He has also started carrying out Legionella risk assessments and is due to undertake PAT testing training, further broadening his technical expertise.   

Declan’s growing knowledge and experience are already benefiting Homes for Good. He regularly diagnoses faults independently, contributes practical solutions to complex repairs and is trusted to manage jobs with minimal supervision. He also excels at interacting with tenants, communicating clearly and going above and beyond whenever he can.  

His professionalism, technical ability and commitment have helped him become a valued member of the Homes for Good team. 

• Individual nominated: Aaron Hodge 
• Organisation: South Lanarkshire Council 

Statement of support

South Lanarkshire Council is delighted to nominate Aaron Hodge for the Apprentice of the Year category. Throughout his apprenticeship, Aaron has shown exceptional commitment, professionalism and enthusiasm for developing his trade. His positive attitude, strong work ethic and willingness to learn have made him a valued member of the construction services team and an excellent ambassador for the council’s apprenticeship programme. 

From the outset, Aaron has demonstrated maturity, dedication and a genuine desire to learn and improve. He listens carefully to experienced tradespeople, asks relevant questions and applies feedback to strengthen his practical skills, technical knowledge and confidence. He consistently approaches new tasks with enthusiasm and takes pride in learning how to complete work safely and to a high standard. 

Aaron has quickly established himself as a reliable and dependable member of the joinery team working within tenant’s homes across South Lanarkshire. He can be trusted to complete tasks efficiently and responsibly, while understanding the importance of delivering work that meets the expectations of the council and the tenants we serve. His attention to detail, sense of responsibility and determination to complete work correctly first time have earned him the respect of supervisors and colleagues. 

A particular strength is Aaron’s ability to work well with others. He collaborates effectively with experienced joiners and colleagues from other trades, showing respect, professionalism and a willingness to assist whenever required. He communicates clearly, contributes positively to the working environment and demonstrates the values expected of a South Lanarkshire Council employee. 

Aaron also seeks opportunities to broaden his experience beyond the tasks assigned to him. He willingly assists with unfamiliar work, develops new skills and increases his knowledge through practical experience. This proactive approach has accelerated his development and helped him become a trusted and valued member of the team. 

His dedication extends beyond the workplace. Aaron has excelled in his college studies, remaining ahead of schedule throughout his most recent academic term and passing every module to date. He is currently on course to qualify as a first-class joiner, reflecting both his technical ability and the commitment he applies to every aspect of his apprenticeship. He has also completed additional training, demonstrating his commitment to continuous professional development and safe working practices. 

Aaron’s personal growth has been equally impressive. He has developed into a confident, competent and professional individual who represents South Lanarkshire Council with pride. Alongside his technical ability, he has strengthened the communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills essential within construction services. He understands the importance of excellent customer service, treating tenants with respect and maintaining the high standards expected of the council. 

Aaron is an outstanding example of what an apprenticeship can achieve. Through hard work, determination and a consistently positive attitude, he has embraced every opportunity to learn and has developed into a highly capable apprentice with a bright future. He embodies the values of South Lanarkshire Council through his professionalism, integrity, teamwork and commitment to excellence. 

Aaron will continue to develop into an outstanding tradesperson and make a significant contribution to services provided for tenants for many years to come. He is a thoroughly deserving nominee. 

Outcomes and achievements

Throughout his apprenticeship, Aaron has demonstrated excellent technical ability across a wide range of joinery activities. This includes fitting timber stud partitions, installing internal doors, skirtings and facings, fitting complete kitchens within buy-back and re-let properties and completing work on partitions, windows and plasterboard ceilings. He has also assisted with fencing works when required, demonstrating flexibility and a willingness to support the wider service. 

Aaron has developed competence in the safe use of a wide range of battery-operated power tools and joinery equipment. He uses tools responsibly and safely, applying the training and guidance provided to him on site. 

In addition to his practical achievements, Aaron has shown excellent commitment to his professional development. He has successfully completed mandatory training, remained ahead of schedule throughout his most recent college term and passed every college module to date. He is on course to qualify as a first-class joiner, reflecting his ability, dedication and commitment to achieving the highest professional standards. 

Aaron’s achievements demonstrate strong technical competence, continuous learning, safe working practices and consistently high-quality workmanship. His excellent performance both on site and in further education clearly shows why he is a worthy nominee for the Apprentice of the Year award. 

• Individual nominated: Melissa Corrigan 
• Organisation: South Lanarkshire Council 

Statement of support

Melissa Corrigan joined South Lanarkshire Council in July 2025 as a Modern Apprentice and has already made an exceptional impression across housing services. In a short period of time, she has worked across homelessness, housing management and the integrated home options team, gaining a broad understanding of the housing sector and the important role housing plays in supporting individuals, families and communities. 

From the outset, Melissa has approached every task with enthusiasm, professionalism and a genuine willingness to learn. She has quickly developed the confidence and skills required to support busy operational teams, assisting with a wide range of duties linked to homelessness, allocations, tenancy management and customer contact. Her ability to adapt between different teams and service pressures demonstrates maturity, resilience and a strong commitment to delivering a high-quality housing service. 

Melissa is currently completing her SVQ and CIH Level 2 qualification, and she has shown clear commitment to using her learning to improve her day-to-day practice. She applies new knowledge positively, asks thoughtful questions and takes responsibility for developing her understanding of housing processes, legislation and customer service standards. This commitment to personal development has supported her progression and has recently resulted in Melissa securing a Housing Assistant post, confirming her ambition to build a long-term career in housing. 

What makes Melissa stand out is not only that she completes what is asked of her, but that she regularly goes above and beyond to support colleagues and improve the service provided to tenants, residents and people experiencing homelessness. She brings a positive outlook to every area of work and is willing to take on new challenges, often identifying practical ways to make tasks clearer, more organised and more customer-focused. 

Her creative and innovative approach is shown through her willingness to look for better ways of working, whether by supporting improved communication between teams, helping organise information more effectively or contributing positively to problem-solving in fast-paced service areas. Melissa understands that small improvements in administration, customer contact and team support can make a significant difference to service delivery and to the experience of tenants and other customers who may be in vulnerable or stressful circumstances.  Melissa’s dedication, drive and attitude have had a positive impact on the organisation. She has built strong working relationships, demonstrates reliability and care in her work, and has become a valued member of each team she has supported. She listens, learns quickly and applies feedback constructively, showing the qualities of an emerging housing professional who is committed to excellence. 

Melissa is an excellent example of the positive contribution apprentices can make to South Lanarkshire Council’s housing services. Her progress reflects her determination, her commitment to learning and her passion for helping deliver better outcomes for people who need housing advice, assistance and support. She has already exceeded expectations and has shown that she has the potential to continue making a meaningful contribution to housing services throughout her career. 

Outcomes and achievements

Since joining the council in July 2025, Melissa has progressed from Modern Apprentice to securing a Housing Assistant post, showing clear commitment to building a career in housing. Working across homelessness, housing management and the integrated home options team, she has gained broad experience and made a positive contribution in each. 

Melissa has exceeded expectations through her enthusiasm, reliability and willingness to go above and beyond. She adapts quickly, supports colleagues effectively and remains focused on improving the experience of tenants, residents and people seeking housing assistance. Her positive outlook and practical approach have helped teams respond to busy service pressures with confidence. 

Through her SVQ and CIH Level 2 learning, Melissa has developed her knowledge, confidence and professionalism. She applies learning in practice, asks questions, accepts feedback and looks for better ways to support service delivery. Her creativity is shown in how she helps improve communication, organise information clearly and contribute to practical solutions that benefit our customers. 

Melissa’s dedication and drive to learn have already made a meaningful difference. She is a strong example of the value apprentices bring to housing and has the potential to continue making a positive impact throughout her career with South Lanarkshire Council. 

• Individual nominated: Emmanuel Onamade 
• Organisation: Wheatley Group 

Statement of support

Emmanuel Onamade has demonstrated exceptional dedication, commitment, and professionalism throughout his apprenticeship journey since joining Lowther, part of the Wheatley Group, in October 2025. 

From the beginning of his apprenticeship, Emmanuel has shown a strong work ethic and determination to succeed. A clear example of this commitment is his daily commute from Edinburgh to Glasgow. Despite the significant travel involved, he has consistently maintained excellent attendance, punctuality, and a professional attitude. His dedication to both his role and learning has never wavered, demonstrating the importance he places on personal development and contributing to the organisation. 

Emmanuel started his career as an administrative assistant within Lowther, supporting colleagues across the team and ensuring work was completed accurately and efficiently. He quickly established himself as a reliable and hardworking team member who was willing to take on challenges and go beyond expectations. 

One of Emmanuel's most significant achievements came early in his apprenticeship when he completed a task that had been allocated to three people over a two-week period. Through his determination, organisation, and commitment, he completed the work alone in just three days while maintaining a high standard of quality. This achievement demonstrated not only his capability but also his willingness to go above and beyond to support the organisation. 

In addition, Emmanuel played an important role in bringing several outdated tasks, which had fallen months behind schedule, fully up to date. He not only cleared the backlog but also helped ensure that work remained on track moving forward. This had a positive impact on team performance and service delivery and highlighted his ability to remain focused and productive when faced with demanding workloads. 

Throughout his apprenticeship, Emmanuel has embraced change positively and professionally. A colleague described him as someone who demonstrates a positive and flexible approach when responding to change, adapting quickly to new procedures, priorities, systems, and work streams. This was particularly evident when he successfully transitioned from the resales team to residential services. His willingness to learn, ask questions, seek feedback, and take ownership of his development enabled him to maintain a high standard of work while adapting to new responsibilities. 

Emmanuel's commitment to excellence has also been recognised by management. Following the completion of a key piece of work involving the loading of new accounts, feedback from management confirmed there were no issues identified within his work. His manager highlighted that this reflected Emmanuel's hard work, attention to detail, and commitment to high-quality performance. 

His dedication extends beyond the workplace. As part of his apprenticeship programme, Emmanuel successfully completed his college qualification within eight months, despite the programme being designed to take twelve months. Completing the course four months ahead of schedule demonstrates his determination, resilience, strong time management, and eagerness to learn. 

As a result of his outstanding performance and development, Emmanuel earned a promotion to the strategy and performance team as a Business Improvement Admin Assistant. In this role, he continues to apply the knowledge and skills gained through his apprenticeship while contributing to business improvement activities across the organisation. 

Emmanuel's achievements, positive outlook, commitment to learning, and ability to make a meaningful impact make him an outstanding candidate for Apprentice of the Year. He has consistently exceeded expectations and represents the very best qualities of an apprentice within the housing sector. 

Outcomes and achievements

Since starting his apprenticeship in October 2025, Emmanuel Onamade has consistently exceeded expectations through his dedication, hard work, and passion for learning. 

While working as an administrative assistant within Lowther, he successfully completed a major task that had been assigned to three people over a two-week period, delivering the work independently in just three days. He also helped bring several months of outstanding work up to date and maintained those improved standards moving forward. 

Emmanuel has demonstrated outstanding commitment to his apprenticeship by travelling daily from Edinburgh to Glasgow while maintaining excellent attendance, professionalism, and performance. Alongside his work responsibilities, he completed his college qualification in only eight months, despite the programme being designed to take twelve months. 

His adaptability, positive attitude, and willingness to embrace change have been recognised by colleagues and managers. He has received praise for his attention to detail, reliability, resilience, and ability to maintain a high standard of work during periods of change. 

As a result of his achievements and continuous development, Emmanuel secured a promotion to the strategy and performance team as a Business Improvement Admin Assistant. His progress reflects both his commitment to self-development and the significant positive impact he has made within the Wheatley Group. 

• Individual nominated: Isaac Henderson 
• Organisation: Stirling Council 

Statement of support

Isaac Henderson commenced his Plumbing Modern Apprenticeship at Stirling Council in August 2023. Isaac is currently progressing into his 4th year and is developing his skills towards final qualifications as plumber and gas engineer.   

Isaac is currently based within our plumbing team which provides plumbing and gas support to all workstreams across the housing service including repairs and maintenance, voids, capital investment such as heating installations, kitchen and bathroom replacement, major adaptations as well as regulatory servicing.  

Since starting his modern apprenticeship, Isaac has developed into a capable and confident apprentice who demonstrates a high level of technical knowledge across a range of plumbing and heating activities. His work evidence portfolio highlights the breadth of skills he has developed, including installing, servicing and maintaining domestic heating systems whilst always working safely and professionally.  

One example of Isaac's development is his involvement in the replacement and commissioning of a Worcester 4000 combination boiler. This work included the removal of an existing appliance, adapting pipework to suit the new installation, fitting controls, carrying out gas tightness tests, commissioning the boiler and explaining the operation of the new heating system to the tenant. This demonstrates Isaac’s technical skills and competence but also a strong understanding of safety, customer service and providing quality workmanship.  

Isaac has also demonstrated the ability to undertake detailed servicing and maintenance activities on domestic gas appliances. His portfolio evidence records Isaac undertaking gas safety checks, visual inspections, flue gas analysis, combustion testing, condensate trap cleaning and completion of CP12 certification. Through this work he has shown a clear understanding of gas safety requirements and the importance of maintaining high standards to ensure tenant safety and satisfaction.  

Supervisory staff highlight that what distinguishes Isaac from many of his peers is his attitude towards both learning and work. His time-keeping and attendance are excellent and he is respectful, dependable and willing to take on new challenges. 

Isaac always listens carefully, follows instructions, takes on board feedback and continuously strives to improve his knowledge, understanding and practical ability. His excellent conduct, strong attendance, commitment to his apprenticeship, willingness to learn and overall professionalism have made him a positive role model for other apprentices. Isaac’s positive attitude receives good feedback from fellow trades persons, work schedulers, supervisory staff as well as tenants.  

Isaac also proves his commitment to his training through his submission of his work diaries and record of work experience evidence sheets. As part of Stirling Council’s apprenticeship training programme, each apprentice is asked to submit weekly work diaries and two record of work evidence sheets per month. Isaac continues to submit these timeously, fully detailing and recording the work experience he has gained and the learning outcomes he has achieved, this allows his work tasks to be tailored to ensure co-ordination with his college training.   

Isaac has embraced every opportunity available to him and has progressed into a highly capable apprentice plumber with a promising future in the plumbing and gas trade. His technical development, commitment to learning and exemplary behaviour make him a deserving candidate for this award.  

Outcomes and achievements

Throughout his apprenticeship Isaac has consistently demonstrated an outstanding attitude, strong work ethic and a genuine commitment to developing his skills within the plumbing and heating profession. 

Isaac is a highly respected member of the team who approaches every task with professionalism and maturity. He is reliable, conscientious and eager to learn, consistently displaying the behaviours and standards expected of a modern apprentice. He works exceptionally well with colleagues, supervisors and tenants and has established an excellent and respected reputation across both the workplace and college environments. 

Feedback from college has been consistently outstanding. His lecturer has commented that Isaac continues to perform at a very high level, is progressing through his gas examinations without issue and is regarded as a model student. College staff have described him as a "great student" and have remarked that they wish they had more students like him, which is a testament to both his attitude and commitment to learning. 

Stirling Council are delighted to support Isaac’s nomination for this award as the commitment he has shown to his learning and development as well as his reliability and professionalism through his modern apprenticeship training present Isaac as an ambassador for apprenticeships.