A young engineer from Buckie has been named Supporting Net Zero Apprentice of the Year at the Scottish Apprenticeship Awards in Glasgow on 26 February 2026, recognised for both her technical work and her efforts to inspire more girls into engineering.
Kiera Wright, who joined aes renewables through a Graduate Apprenticeship in 2021, has grown into a key member of the team, working across solar PV design, grid compliance and technical support on projects that contribute to Scotland’s transition to net zero.
Her day job is technical and detailed.
Her wider impact has been deeply human.
Alongside her engineering work, Kiera has spent time in local schools and colleges across Moray and the Highlands, talking to young people about careers in renewables and showing girls in particular that engineering is not out of reach.
She said:
“I never imagined I would win this award.
“I started my apprenticeship hoping to find a path into engineering without leaving home, and it has become so much more than that.
“Meeting young people in our local schools and helping them see that engineering could be a future for them has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.
“If my story helps even one girl feel more confident choosing this path, then that means a lot to me.”
Her apprenticeship allowed her to combine full time work with degree level study, gaining hands on experience while completing her qualification.
She has worked on detailed PV designs, managed the G99 process and supported customers with technical queries, becoming a trusted point of contact within the business.
Matthew Milne, Head of Project Delivery at aes renewables, said:
“Kiera brings real care and clarity to her work, and her progress over the last few years has been remarkable.
“She has become a trusted member of our team and a role model for young people across the region who are considering engineering.
“This recognition is very well deserved, and we are all delighted for her.”
For girls growing up in towns like Buckie, seeing someone from their own community build a skilled career close to home matters.
It turns an abstract idea into something real.
aes renewables, founded in 1979 and based in Forres with an additional site in Dingwall, is the UK’s longest standing solar installer and now also works across heat pumps, EV chargers and battery storage.
For Kiera, the award is national recognition.
For Moray, it is proof that talent raised locally can help shape the future of energy.
