At the start of the year, Babcock second phase apprentices were presented with a unique project. Following an approach by REMAP, a charitable organisation that specialises in custom-building equipment for the disabled, Head of Fleet Engineering, Graham Henderson tasked the team to custom-build a chair that would give 15 year old athlete Kayleigh Haggo a competitive edge.

Graham has arranged support for REMAP in recent years by allocating projects to individuals in Babcock’s Graduate Programme but saw this project as a great way to support the apprentice’s ongoing development programme.

Experienced athlete Kayleigh already holds thirteen world records and certainly does not let the fact that she has cerebral palsy dampen her ambition to be a world class competitor and successful Paralympian.
Kayleigh hopes to compete in the Paralympics Club Throw event in 2016, similar to the hammer throw, but the object thrown is a wooden club. Now following a presentation event on 10 April at the Senior Rates’ Mess, Kayleigh has a brand new competition chair that will give her the best possible shot of qualifying.

Second phase apprentices Adam Lyon, Mathew Beasley and Jamie Wilson met with Kayleigh and her family to discuss design regulations and materials for the chair. Adam said: “It was clear Kayleigh was looking forward to the project and after the meeting we were all confident that we could deliver the result to make her dream a reality.”

Following exhaustive research, apprentices Chris McLeod and John Kerr identified the most suitable material for the chair and sent it to Coulport where team members Jonathon Trayte and Robert Wood started the build. To add that personal touch, and at Kayleigh’s request, Ryan Griffiths and Jack Pairmen had the final task of painting the chair pink.

Adam continued: “When we presented the chair to Kayleigh, she was delighted. Everyone involved is extremely proud of the result and wish Kayleigh the best of luck on reaching the Paralympic Games. The 2nd Phase apprentices would also like to thank Babcock for this unique opportunity to represent the Company this way.”