A TOP apprentice at Ferguson Marine is the pride of the Clyde yard after emerging as the best of British in a major national award.

Jennifer McKay beat off competition from all over the country to win the coveted Worshipful Company of Shipwrights Silver Medal.

It means that the talented 24-year-old — who works in the drawing office — is the industry's most outstanding young prospect.

Asked how it felt to win, Jennifer said: "Crazy actually."

She added: "It's really exciting. I had no expectation of winning because when I saw the other candidates I thought everyone was equally as strong and I really had no expectation.

"To be told that I was the 'clear winner' came as a surprise."

The Silver Medal competition was set up by the Queen's father 75 years ago and also comes with a £1,500 cash prize.

Jennifer and fellow Ferguson's apprentice Brendan Conway, a welder, made it to the final 17 contenders out of 100 who took part in a leadership development course last year, from which a shortlist of six finalists was drawn up.

Jennifer said: "When I got the email telling me I'd won overall it felt excellent."

Ferguson's bosses are now set to help her further her education and training as they seek to harness her, and her fellow apprentices', full potential.

Jennifer currently works on structural modifications and changes to vessels with 2D drawings but she is keen to expand her overall knowledge into 3D design, engineering and other avenues.

She said: "The yard is keen to let me explore.

"It's a fantastic place to work and learn."

Cabinet Secretary Derek Mackay, who stepped in to nationalise Ferguson's last year, said: "Since my involvement with Ferguson's I have been enormously impressed by its skilled, diverse workforce.

"Jennifer and her fellow apprentices are shining examples of this."

Tim Hair, the yard's turnaround director, said: "Ferguson Marine's apprenticeship scheme has trained over 40 young apprentices in recent years with excellent results.

"Jennifer's achievement in winning the Medal recognises her as the best apprentice of her year, and we are immensely proud of her achievement.

"We will soon start recruiting for the 2020 apprentice intake, and we look forward to welcoming more young people into the shipbuilding industry on the Lower Clyde."