Gas apprentice Aisling Megahey has taken her career with Belfast-based HEAT to new heights after becoming the first woman to win the prestigious National CORGI Apprentice of the Year Award.

Aisling, (21) was presented with the award at a gala dinner at Coventry City football club.

The CORGI awards recognise excellence and more than 700 representatives from across the UK gas industry were present.

Having decided on a career as a gas engineer at 16, Aisling quickly made her mark at HEAT - a subsidiary of green support services sector and FTSE 250 company eaga plc.

By the end of her first year she had even been chosen as the face of the national training council for the construction industry (CITB’s) campaign to encourage more women into the industry.

She said: “Working in such a male dominated environment was a bit a daunting at first, but I was determined to succeed and I have received so much help, support and encouragement from everyone at HEAT.

“This is the career I have always wanted, and HEAT has given me the opportunity to learn the skills and gain the professional qualifications to do it. Winning this award is a wonderful bonus, and I hope it will encourage other women.”

By the end of her second year Aisling had achieved NVQ Level 2 in gas and by June 2005 she was awarded HEAT’s Apprentice of the Year Shield for all-round performance. Her NVQ Level 3 had to be completed by night class, due to shortages in teaching staff, and she was one of only three students out of an original class size of 19 to pass.

John Morgan, HEAT’s Director of Resource and Development, said: “Aisling’s calibre has been outstanding from the start; conscientious, mature and diligent. She is clearly a future star in the gas industry.”

John Clough MBE, eaga Chief Executive, added: “We are extremely proud of Aisling’s achievement and delighted for everyone at HEAT; this is a success they can all share in. As a former employee-owned organisation, investing in our staff - our Partners as we call them - and helping them fulfil their potential is extremely important us. HEAT’s employee focus typifies this and it is little wonder they were ranked 10th in this year’s Sunday Times Top 100 UK Companies to work for list.”