Blog: National Apprenticeship Week - Opportunity Thursday - Lilee's story

11 February 2026

Lilee's journey as a Building Services Engineering Apprentice

Growing up as a young girl, Lilee didn’t imagine herself working in the construction industry. However, today she is a Building Services Engineering Apprentice, thriving on site, learning from experienced professionals, and building the confidence to challenge stereotypes in a male-dominated field. Her journey shows the impact of real support, determination and following your passions.

As a child, Lilee loved hearing about the projects her Dad worked on and visiting sites with him, even before she fully understood the complexity behind them.

“My Dad’s worked in construction since I was a baby... getting to hear about all the different projects he worked on at the end of the day was so interesting to me even as a child... as I grew older, I began to understand it more and realized it was something I would love to take on as a career.”

Lilee became a Building Services Engineering Apprentice, working with the MEP team, because she wanted to start with the most technical part of the industry. She believes that understanding mechanical, electrical, and public health systems early will help her later when she moves into construction management. Learning the technical pieces first is a strategy she chose intentionally, knowing it will give her an advantage when she eventually focuses on structural elements.

“Focusing on all the little hard bits and the confusing bits that go inside means that later on when I do want tp look at how a building’s actually made with  slabs, concrete and all the brickwork, I already know the harder part.”

As the only female MEP apprentice out of eight on her site, Lilee is aware of the gender imbalance. She believes strongly that girls shouldn’t be put off the industry simply because it’s male-dominated. She wants young women to know that passion is valid regardless of stereotypes, and proving capability is the most powerful response.

“Go for it and make a promise to yourself to not give up... never let anyone overlook your brains and knowledge because you are a woman... always make yourself seen and heard in a room.”

A key part of her positive experience has been her relationship with her Apprenticeship Manager, Sarah. For Lilee, having one dedicated person who knows her well and understands her situation has been invaluable. She appreciates that she can contact Sarah whenever necessary and trusts that problems will be resolved.

“CoTrain has been very helpful since starting my apprenticeship… you feel like you are being listened to and that your views and opinions are listened to… If I had a problem and I called Sarah… she would fix the problem. It wouldn't just be something that's forgotten about.”

This reliable support system has helped her navigate challenges with confidence and feel secure throughout her apprenticeship.

You can also read Lilee's case study: Lilee Johnstone case study (1).pdf.