An apprentice is in the running for a national award for her efforts working with a major Cumbrian firm.

Chloe Pascoe, 18, has been named as a finalist for a National Business Award as a result of her workplace experience at Jacobs Engineering.

She is one of four contenders for the title of Industrial Cadet of the Year in the inaugural Industrial Cadet awards, held in London next month.

The cadet scheme accredits workplace experience offered by over 250 employers to over 10,000 young people across the country.

Miss Pascoe, who is based in Egremont, is the first person in the country to go from being a cadet to co-ordinating a cadet programme, volunteering as the Industrial Cadets co-ordinator and helping develop the Jacobs’ work experience programme.

She has seen the numbers of Industrial Cadets at Jacobs double in the past year.

Her role sees her help young people decide what careers are or aren’t for them. She also encourages open discussion on Industrial Cadets.

Tom Pritt, sector engineering manager at Jacobs, said: “Chloe has taken her enthusiasm during the Industrial Cadet programme through into her apprenticeship and we are delighted that she wants to take such an active role in supporting the next cohorts of Industrial Cadets.

“She is always full of ideas on how we can improve the work experience they have and is currently working up ideas for a ‘Dragons’ Den’ follow-up experience for those who have been through the Industrial Cadet Silver award.”

Laurianne Griffiths, early talent programme manager for GSK, the Industrial Cadet of the Year award sponsor, said: “Industrial Cadets is graduating thousands of young people a year, so to be one of four nominations for Industrial Cadet of the Year is, in itself, an enormous accolade.”