Leah Evans is a young female apprentice who is thriving in the manufacturing sector thanks to her passion, dedication and natural talent.

Currently undertaking her Level 2 Welding apprenticeship, Leah is a valued team member at Hixon-based The HEX Group, contributing directly to both Bri-Stor Systems and Alpha Manufacturing.

Leah has always known that a practical, hands-on career was right for her. While she appreciated school, it was in Design and Technology where her passion really lay – enjoying the opportunity to build, create and work with her hands. Sitting at a desk all day never appealed to her and when the time came to choose a path after school, engineering was a natural fit.

She enrolled in a Level 2 Engineering Operations course at college, where she was the only female in the group. Rather than being discouraged, Leah embraced the opportunity and quickly formed supportive friendships. It was there that she discovered her passion for welding. She took to it immediately, learning quickly and developing a deep sense of focus and satisfaction from the work. Welding felt instinctive—and from the outset, she stood out as someone with real potential.

Leah’s talent didn’t go unnoticed. Her peers regularly turned to her for support and she often mentored others – sharing her own best practices, guiding their development and creating a collaborative learning environment. Even if it meant slowing her own progress, she always made time to help.

Starting at The HEX Group felt like jumping into the deep end – but that’s just how Leah likes it. The fast-paced environment, responsibility, and high expectations were a welcome challenge. She adapted quickly, taking every opportunity to learn and grow. She developed key workplace skills – time management, independent learning, communication, and problem-solving – and quickly became known for her willingness to ask questions and offer help in equal measure.

Leah recently gave a talk at NSCG Stafford about her apprenticeship journey. Though it was her first experience of public speaking, she embraced the opportunity to share her story:
“It was a scary and new experience. I’ve never done anything like that before, but it was great to be given the platform to talk about what I do and see people be interested in what I am doing every day.”

Leah Evans has been nominated in the Apprentice of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.