A trainee electrician from Didcot has secured a place in the semi-finals of the 2026 Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition after standing out among thousands of applicants across the UK and Ireland.
Jaimie Lewis, 26, beat more than 3,000 entrants to earn a place in the next stage of the national competition, which this year attracted a record number of applications. Her success places her among 37 semi-finalists competing for a place in the final and the opportunity to win a £10,000 bundle of tools, technology and training.
Jaimie, who lives in Didcot, is studying Level 3 Electrotechnical on a part-time basis at JTL Oxford as she works towards qualifying as an electrician.
The semi-final stage will involve interviews, with successful candidates progressing to the final, due to take place at Google headquarters in April.
After securing her semi-final place, Jaimie said:
“I am delighted to have made it through to the semi-finals of Screwfix Trade Apprentice. To have been selected from a record number of applications is a huge achievement for me. I’m excited about the prospect of representing Didcot on a national stage.
“I believe that every day is a school day, and as the years progress, so do my skills and knowledge of the electrical trade. I’ve enjoyed learning about renewable energy and smart home automation. I love being in a hands-on career and get great satisfaction from seeing each job come together.
“I believe I’m a hard and dedicated worker who tackles any challenge I face. Being the only girl on site and in the classroom at college means I’m always striving to be the best.”
Since beginning her apprenticeship, Jaimie has achieved the highest result at college while balancing her studies and work with raising two young sons.
Jack Wallace, Marketing Director at Screwfix, said:
“As a retailer to the trade, we are committed to championing tradespeople across the UK and Ireland. The 12th annual Screwfix Trade Apprentice competition is a national platform which recognises and celebrates apprentices, whilst also highlighting the crucial contribution they make to the industry.
“With apprentices so important to the future success of the industry, it is great to see that we have received a record number of entries this year. To make it through to the highly contested semi-final stage is a fantastic achievement, and I wish this year’s semi-finalists the very best of luck in making it to the final.”
