Hayden Inglis, a 21-year-old gas engineering trainee from Glasgow, has been recognised as LCL Awards’ Trainee of the Year.
The judges said they were impressed with Hayden’s “enthusiasm, passion and willingness to succeed” as well as his initiative, problem solving skills and ability to support others.
Hayden recently completed his Commercial MLP & ACS at Scotland’s LCL Awards approved centre, Gas Certification Company, after his apprenticeship at Glasgow Kelvin College.
According to a statement, the Trainee of the Year award recognises an individual who has completed any LCL Awards qualification and “gone above and beyond” in their learning journey. This is done by demonstrating resilience against challenges, excelling in practical or academic performance, or making a positive impact on their peers and industry, it cited.
The award was presented at the annual ‘LCL – The Awards’ ceremony in Birmingham on 26 June. Andy McNabb, owner of Gas Certification Company, accepted the trophy on Hayden’s behalf. In August, Neill Ovenden, LCL Awards operations director, travelled to Glasgow to present Hayden with his toolkit prize.
Hayden said: “I feel brilliant about it! The news came out of the blue when Andy called me from the awards ceremony to tell me I’d won. I’m so excited – it’s really good to have my hard work recognised. I’ve learned so much through my apprenticeship at Gas Certification Company. The practical experience is what I enjoy most – working on the tools and becoming a better engineer every day.”
Hayden began his gas apprenticeship at Glasgow Kelvin College at age 18, inspired by his father, a gas compliance manager and engineer. His tutors and managers described him as “highly capable, reliable and a natural mentor to others”, whether in the classroom or on-site.
Jo Kelly, Hayden’s tutor at Gas Certification Company, added: “Hayden’s abilities to fault-find and offer considered solutions set him apart. He takes initiative in problem-solving, often researching technical issues independently and sharing his findings with his mentoring engineers and peers in his class.
“His natural curiosity and ability to communicate technical ideas have made him a valuable contributor to the team and shown his collaborative spirit. Hayden is an exceptional trainee who we believe is already making a meaningful contribution to the profession.”
Neill Ovenden, LCL Awards’ operations director, said: “Hayden’s dedication to his training, his maturity beyond his years and his willingness to go the extra mile make him exactly the kind of role model we want to celebrate. He embodies the highest standards of excellence and determination that the Trainee of the Year was designed to highlight.”
Other 2025 finalists were Gavin Charnock of ACS Gas Training and Assessment, South Wales, and Joshua Scott of Logic4training, Luton.
Winners were selected by a panel including Charlotte Lee, CEO of the Heat Pump Association (HPA), Stewart Clements, director of the Heat & Hot Water Industry Council (HHIC), Hattie Hassan MBE, CEO of Stopcocks and Brett Forster, head of training at NAPIT.