An electrician from Leiston is feeling positive ahead a national skills contest where she will take on some of the best students in the country during a competition called SkillElectricUK.
Jane Thorp, 21, from Leiston works for Fellowes Electrical Ltd in Knoddishall.
She studies as an apprentice at Suffolk New College where she has won a clutch of major awards during her time being taught at one of the region’s top educational establishments.
Jane won the SPARKS Female Skills Winner 2023 and was the runner-up in the SPARKS Learner of the Year 2024. She was also the Suffolk New College electrical apprentice of the year winner in 2025.
And over the summer, Jane travelled to the Suffolk Joint Construction Committee’s (SJCC) annual awards bash held at Trinity Park and received the top building apprentice of the year prize at this prestigious event.
After the SJCC event, Jane took part in the regional heats of SkillElectricUK that took place at the College of West Anglia.
She came first in this event that was one of ten regional heats that took place in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
The top eight competitors out of all of these heats have now been chosen to make sparks fly during a national SkillElectricUK final that is being held in Newport across the week of 24 November.
The top performer in the Newport final will then potentially have a chance to compete for Team GB during an international WorldSkills event that will be taking place in Shanghai next year.
Jane Thorp, 21, from Leiston, said: “This is the first time I’ve got to SkillElectricUK. I won the heats in Kings Lynn and next up we have a training day in London this October. Three other students from Suffolk New College have got to national skills finals (in other areas) so it’s pretty cool we’ve all made it through.” Other students to gain places in national finals who will be representing Suffolk New College at WorldSkills in November are Fred Kingslick and Jon Painter (accounting) and Annalise Wilden (foundation hairdressing).
Jane continued: “If I win the final in November, I could end up representing my country – that would be amazing.”
In terms of being told she is the most decorated student in the history of Suffolk New College Jane added: “That is unbelievable. I’m quite proud of myself.”
Alan Pease is the principal and CEO of Suffolk New College. He said: “Jane has been a fantastic ambassador for the college and we are incredibly proud of her amazing efforts. The fact that she keeps proving herself against some of the top electrical talent in the country, will stand her in good stead when she goes to the SkillElectricUK finals later this year. We will give her all the support she needs.”