A Cumbrian project manager has won a prestigious award.
Kiara Orchard was named Emerging Project Professional of the Year at the Association for Project Management Project Management Awards in London.
Kiara, of Silloth, attended Silloth Primary School then the Nelson Thomlinson School in Wigton. After completing her A-levels in 2019, she started a Level 6 project management degree apprenticeship at Sellafield Ltd.
During the four-year apprenticeship, Kiara studied for a bachelor’s degree in project management with the University of Cumbria, for which she achieved a first class in her dissertation and distinction against the Level 6 apprenticeship standard the end point assessments.
She graduated from the University of Cumbria in 2023, and from the apprenticeship and was awarded Project Management Apprentice of the Year by Sellafield Ltd.
Since then, Kiara has progressed to sub-project manager and owns key work packages across multiple projects and plays a leading role in several company initiatives as a committed volunteer.
Kiara said: “Both of these are a considerable benefit in this early stage of my career; honing my project management skills and gaining a wider understanding of the business through delivery of outcomes which benefit the company and the individuals working within it.”
After winning the award this week, Kiara said: “I am absolutely delighted to have been recognised at a national level for my passion towards project delivery and commitment to the project management profession. I am so proud to have been shortlisted never mind taking home the trophy, and this is a testament to the support I have received at Sellafield to challenge myself and take on additional opportunities.”
Alongside her day job, Kiara is co-chair for the Sellafield Menohub, an employee-led network which aims to raise awareness and improve support for those experiencing the menopause, a town councillor for Silloth-on-Solway and a parish councillor for Holme Low. She is also a national champion cheerleader for Cheer Force Knights Maryport.
She added: “I am hugely proud to have achieved so much in my early career already. This is only the start, and this award motivates me to continue to challenge myself even further, on my path to Chartership. I would like to thank every single manager, mentor and colleague who have supported me from my first day as an apprentice through to today, and of course, my family, who have been my biggest supporters and I couldn’t have done this without.”
