LCL Awards announces its 2026 ‘Trainee of the Year’ – one of Baxi’s newest F Gas engineers
26 Aug 2026
Pictured left to right: Gareth Hassall, (Director at Staffordshire Training Services), Amanada ColClough (Assistant Quality & Operations Manager at Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington), Carly Gayle (Field Services Engineer at Baxi), Mark Krull (Director at LCL Awards), Steve Webb (Senior Service Operations Manager at Baxi)
Carly Gayle has been named LCL Awards’ ‘Trainee of the Year’ at its annual celebration of the achievements of approved centres throughout the UK. A candidate of Staffordshire Training Services and one of Baxi’s newest F Gas engineers, she impressed the judges with her commitment to progressing in the building services sector and support of fellow trainees. She received her certificate, trophy and Testo testing equipment goody bag on 14th August, presented by LCL Awards Director, Mark Krull.
Carly recently completed LCL Awards' F-gas course at Staffordshire Training Services funded by Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington's Women in Skills Bootcamp. Keen to future-proof her career, she embraced the opportunity with determination and a real enthusiasm for learning.
Staffordshire Training Services’ Director, Gareth Hassall, said: “Carly’s attitude, proactive approach to learning and willingness to support others meant she excelled personally, but also as a source of encouragement to the other candidates. She was open to sharing her own experiences, providing motivation and demonstrating that women have an important and growing role to play in the future of the industry.”
Lee Dowding, Field Team Manager for Baxi, said: “I am so pleased for Carly winning this award. It is no surprise as I see the recognition she receives regularly from colleagues, customers, installers and many others. She has worked so hard for everything she has achieved in her career as an engineer in the trade. She is quite rightly getting recognised for all these efforts. Everyone at Baxi is proud of her. She is an asset to the business. Well done and congratulations Carly!”
Mark Krull, Director for LCL Awards, said: “I was delighted to present Carly with the 2026 ‘Trainee of the Year’ prize. A deserving winner, she demonstrates exactly what it takes to succeed in our sector and is a great representative for women in the trades; a group that is still extremely under-represented. Staffordshire Training Services go above and beyond with their support of learners - the centre also won the top spot in our ‘Inclusivity’ category thanks to its commitment to ensuring a welcoming and supportive learning environment for candidates from all walks of life.”
Amanda Colclough, Assistant Quality & Operations Manager, Skills Bootcamp Cheshire & Warrington, said: “Through the Women in Skills Bootcamp Carly embraced every opportunity, progressed into a specialist role and is now a fantastic ambassador for women in engineering and green skills! Her story really shows the impact Skills Bootcamps can have, creating opportunities, changing careers and helping people reach their potential, while also building the skilled workforce our region needs for the future.”
Building services from the start
With over 20 years’ experience in the sector, starting off helping her gas engineer father on the weekends as a teenager, completing a plumbing and heating apprenticeship after school, running her own business and now working as a Field Services Engineer for Baxi, Carly has continuously progressed in her career. As one of Baxi’s newest F-Gas engineers, Carly works on their heat pump range, supporting the roll out of low carbon heating and cooling.
Carly, said: “I am deeply grateful to receive this award and truly appreciate the recognition for expanding my expertise into this new area. I am eager to learn and adapt as much as possible for the industries transition into renewable energy. I’m looking forward to seeing where the rest of my career takes me!”
About ‘LCL Awards – The Awards’
The official awards ceremony for approved centres took place on the 26th June at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham. In addition to ‘Trainee of the Year’, other categories included: Gas Centre, Electrical Centre, Green Centre, Innovation Award, Community Engagement Award and Inclusivity Award, which was also won by Staffordshire Training Services.
The awards are judged by an independent panel of industry experts – Hattie Hasan, MBE and founder of all women plumbing firm, Stopcocks, Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive at the Heat Pump Association (HPA), Stewart Clements, Director of the Heating & Hot Water Association and new for 2026, Jerry Whitely, Technical Manager at the Chartered Institute of Plumbing, Heating & Engineering (CIPHE).
What the judges said about Carly:
Stewart Clements, said: “Carly Gayle is a truly deserving winner—demonstrating exceptional determination, resilience and passion throughout her journey. Balancing work, family and training, she not only achieved outstanding results but also inspired those around her, becoming a role model for others and a shining example of the future of the industry.”
Hattie Hasan MBE, said: “I didn't pick Carly, because she is a woman. I picked her because of her dedication to her training, her 'above and beyond' approach to helping others and her determination to become the latest F-Gas engineer for Baxi. All while bringing up children.” (Carly has two stepsons and one son with her partner, Dan Hulme – also a gas engineer).
Carly beat off stiff competition for the top spot:
• Jake Hay, who completed his Gas MLP at Hampshire Training and Assessment; one of the youngest ever installers to gain Gas Safe registration at just 17
• Richard Dunbar from South Eastern Regional College, a career changer with one the best Managed Learning Programme (MLP) portfolios the External Quality Assessors had ever seen.
Pictured left to right: Gareth Hassall, (Director at Staffordshire Training Services), Amanada ColClough (Assistant Quality & Operations Manager at Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington), Carly Gayle (Field Services Engineer at Baxi), Mark Krull (Director at LCL Awards), Steve Webb (Senior Service Operations Manager at Baxi)
Carly Gayle has been named LCL Awards’ ‘Trainee of the Year’ at its annual celebration of the achievements of approved centres throughout the UK. A candidate of Staffordshire Training Services and one of Baxi’s newest F Gas engineers, she impressed the judges with her commitment to progressing in the building services sector and support of fellow trainees. She received her certificate, trophy and Testo testing equipment goody bag on 14th August, presented by LCL Awards Director, Mark Krull.
Carly recently completed LCL Awards' F-gas course at Staffordshire Training Services funded by Enterprise Cheshire and Warrington's Women in Skills Bootcamp. Keen to future-proof her career, she embraced the opportunity with determination and a real enthusiasm for learning.
Staffordshire Training Services’ Director, Gareth Hassall, said: “Carly’s attitude, proactive approach to learning and willingness to support others meant she excelled personally, but also as a source of encouragement to the other candidates. She was open to sharing her own experiences, providing motivation and demonstrating that women have an important and growing role to play in the future of the industry.”
Lee Dowding, Field Team Manager for Baxi, said: “I am so pleased for Carly winning this award. It is no surprise as I see the recognition she receives regularly from colleagues, customers, installers and many others. She has worked so hard for everything she has achieved in her career as an engineer in the trade. She is quite rightly getting recognised for all these efforts. Everyone at Baxi is proud of her. She is an asset to the business. Well done and congratulations Carly!”
Mark Krull, Director for LCL Awards, said: “I was delighted to present Carly with the 2026 ‘Trainee of the Year’ prize. A deserving winner, she demonstrates exactly what it takes to succeed in our sector and is a great representative for women in the trades; a group that is still extremely under-represented. Staffordshire Training Services go above and beyond with their support of learners - the centre also won the top spot in our ‘Inclusivity’ category thanks to its commitment to ensuring a welcoming and supportive learning environment for candidates from all walks of life.”
Amanda Colclough, Assistant Quality & Operations Manager, Skills Bootcamp Cheshire & Warrington, said: “Through the Women in Skills Bootcamp Carly embraced every opportunity, progressed into a specialist role and is now a fantastic ambassador for women in engineering and green skills! Her story really shows the impact Skills Bootcamps can have, creating opportunities, changing careers and helping people reach their potential, while also building the skilled workforce our region needs for the future.”
Building services from the start
With over 20 years’ experience in the sector, starting off helping her gas engineer father on the weekends as a teenager, completing a plumbing and heating apprenticeship after school, running her own business and now working as a Field Services Engineer for Baxi, Carly has continuously progressed in her career. As one of Baxi’s newest F-Gas engineers, Carly works on their heat pump range, supporting the roll out of low carbon heating and cooling.
Carly, said: “I am deeply grateful to receive this award and truly appreciate the recognition for expanding my expertise into this new area. I am eager to learn and adapt as much as possible for the industries transition into renewable energy. I’m looking forward to seeing where the rest of my career takes me!”
About ‘LCL Awards – The Awards’
The official awards ceremony for approved centres took place on the 26th June at the Hilton Metropole in Birmingham. In addition to ‘Trainee of the Year’, other categories included: Gas Centre, Electrical Centre, Green Centre, Innovation Award, Community Engagement Award and Inclusivity Award, which was also won by Staffordshire Training Services.
The awards are judged by an independent panel of industry experts – Hattie Hasan, MBE and founder of all women plumbing firm, Stopcocks, Charlotte Lee, Chief Executive at the Heat Pump Association (HPA), Stewart Clements, Director of the Heating & Hot Water Association and new for 2026, Jerry Whitely, Technical Manager at the Chartered Institute of Plumbing, Heating & Engineering (CIPHE).
What the judges said about Carly:
Stewart Clements, said: “Carly Gayle is a truly deserving winner—demonstrating exceptional determination, resilience and passion throughout her journey. Balancing work, family and training, she not only achieved outstanding results but also inspired those around her, becoming a role model for others and a shining example of the future of the industry.”
Hattie Hasan MBE, said: “I didn't pick Carly, because she is a woman. I picked her because of her dedication to her training, her 'above and beyond' approach to helping others and her determination to become the latest F-Gas engineer for Baxi. All while bringing up children.” (Carly has two stepsons and one son with her partner, Dan Hulme – also a gas engineer).
Carly beat off stiff competition for the top spot:
• Jake Hay, who completed his Gas MLP at Hampshire Training and Assessment; one of the youngest ever installers to gain Gas Safe registration at just 17
• Richard Dunbar from South Eastern Regional College, a career changer with one the best Managed Learning Programme (MLP) portfolios the External Quality Assessors had ever seen.