On Monday 9th February 2026, four apprentices from Stallingborough based training provider CATCH attended a National Apprenticeship Week reception at 10 Downing Street, hosted by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, after writing directly to him about the value of apprenticeships and skills training in supporting the UK’s clean energy ambitions.
Emily Hasthorpe, now a second-year Process Operations apprentice, employed by Lenzing in North Lincolnshire, wrote to the Prime Minister on behalf of CATCH and the wider apprenticeship cohort. Her letter highlighted the importance of high quality, employer led apprenticeships, hands on technical skills, and sustained investment in training to secure the future workforce.
In response, Emily and three fellow apprentices: Harry Hooton, welding apprentice and world skills finalist, employed by Blackrow, Shayden Rodgers, pipe welder apprentice employed by GE Vernova and Madeleine Cartwright, electrical apprentice employed by Philips 66 Limited, attended the high profile – Opportunities for All: A National Apprenticeship Week Reception – hosted by Keir Starmer at 10 Downing Street, celebrating the role apprenticeships play in creating good jobs, supporting industry, and strengthening communities across the UK.
Emily commented: “I am currently in my second year of a process apprenticeship with Lenzing Fibres. During my first year at CATCH, I wrote to the Prime Minister to invite him to visit our site, however I was instead honoured to be invited to Number 10 for National Apprenticeship Week. This provided a valuable opportunity to meet the Prime Minister, engage with representatives from a range of trades and companies, and raise awareness of the work carried out by Lenzing Fibres, as well as my training provider, CATCH. I am extremely grateful to CATCH for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity it has been amazing!”
Lisa Buck, Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs at CATCH, said of the visit: “We are incredibly proud of Emily and her fellow apprentices. It is not every day you get to attend a reception at 10 Downing Street and meet the Prime Minister! This invitation recognises not only her confidence but the voice of apprentices across our region who are working hard to build long-term careers in vital industries. Apprenticeships are about providing opportunities for all, developing lifelong skills and valuable hands-on experience and Emily’s letter captured that perfectly.”
Lewis Crowther, Head of Business Development and Marketing, Blackrow said: “We are incredibly proud to see Harry represent both Blackrow and the wider apprenticeship community at such a prestigious event. Apprenticeships play a vital role in developing the skilled workforce our industry depends on, and it is great to see that recognised at a national level. Supporting young people into engineering careers is something we are deeply committed to, and opportunities like this show just how far an apprenticeship can take you.”
CATCH is a nationally recognised, industry-led training centre supporting skills development across the energy, process engineering and industrial sectors. The organisation continues to invest heavily in state-of-the-art facilities, supported by strong collaboration with its members and partners. This includes investment from Viking CCS partners Phillips 66 Limited, Harbour Energy, Drax Group and Associated British Ports (ABP), alongside Air Products and Uniper, as well as funding from the Humber Freeport and ECITB. Together, this support has enabled the development the CATCH facilities, with further investment underway through a new conference centre due to open in April this year.
The invitation to Downing Street comes during National Apprenticeship Week and underlines the growing recognition of apprentices as key contributors to the UK’s economic future and clean energy transition.