A 19-year-old higher level apprentice from Kilkeel has won the Apprentice of the Year award at the Made in Northern Ireland 2026 ceremony. Aoife Rooney received the honour at the Titanic, Belfast, on Wednesday 20 May.

Ms Rooney is in her first year of a Business Level 5 Higher National Diploma Higher Level Apprenticeship at Southern Regional College’s Newry campus. She works with aerospace manufacturer Collins Aerospace.

She was one of ten shortlisted for the award. Fellow SRC student Holly McCafferty, an Engineering Higher Level Apprentice from Newry who works with MJM Marine, was also nominated.

The judging panel highlighted Ms Rooney’s initiative and technical ability. They noted her introduction of digital tools including QR code systems to improve workplace processes and efficiency. She uses project tracking software JIRA and the manufacturing execution system Jetstream in her daily work.

Ms Rooney said she was grateful to be chosen and that winning made her hard work feel worthwhile. She added that she would recommend the apprenticeship path to others.

Lee Campbell, Principal and Chief Executive of Southern Regional College, said the award demonstrated the impact of Higher Level Apprenticeships in developing individuals who can make immediate contributions to businesses.