Top Olympic Park apprentice gong for young Newham woman

Excellence in Health and Safety award winners Kenny Healy and Samir Abarak with Leanne Doig (Image: Archant)

Leanne Doig, from Canning Town, took home the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park Apprentice of the Year 2013 at City Hall on Wednesday.

She was one of more than 60 apprentices honoured for their work in helping to transform the park post London 2012 Games.

“Winning this award means so much to me. What you put in, is what you get out,” said Leanne.

The 21-year-old has worked as a trainee construction operative apprentice with construction firm BAM Nuttall since December last year on projects including the Lee Valley VeloPark and Timber Lodge Café.

“I’ve wanted to work in construction ever since I was little, just like my dad, and he’s really proud that I’ve had the chance to work on Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

She said her apprenticeship was “just the start” of her career, adding: “I want to run my own business one day and hire lots of women, because we need more women in construction.”

Other successes on the night included Damien Ganesh, 25, from Isle of Dogs, Tower Hamlets, who picked up the Award for Excellence in Health and Safety as well as special recognition runners up Jamil Ahmed, also from Isle of Dogs, and Samir Abarak.

Since beginning a construction works at the park in October 2012 the London Legacy Development Corporation has focused on creating apprenticeship opportunities as a way of giving local young people a route into a career.

Mr Johnson said: “Apprenticeships offer a fantastic foot up onto the ladder of career success and it is really inspiring to see what the apprentices have achieved.

“This talented group of young people are helping to shape the future of this famous site whilst equipping themselves with new skills to make their future prospects brighter.”