A TEAM from QinetiQ battled it out against apprentices from across the country and secured fourth place in the 2016 Brathay Apprentice Challenge.

They were pitted against seven other teams but missed out on being crowned winner of the coveted apprentice team of the year title, which went to UK Atomic Energy Authority.

All the apprentices had to take part in two days of mental and physical challenges during the final at Brathay Trust’s Windermere headquarters, which included an orienteering challenge around Lake Windermere where they had to sail around the lake and get back to shore in quick time.

The QinetiQ apprentices, who are based at MOD Boscombe Down, managed to achieve the fastest time out of all the teams in a challenge to assemble a giant wooden jigsaw puzzle.

Luke Barrow, who was part of the QinetiQ team, said the team were pleased with the result but disappointed that they missed out on the top spot. He said: “It’s fantastic. When the results were read out we really thought we were going to come first because we put in a fantastic effort and were the team to beat. We came first in four activities during the few days we were there.

“However, the previous business and school outreach really let us down. We were disappointed as that was what we were striving for. We are still very satisfied and proud of how we’ve done. We put our all into it and each member of the team has developed significantly as individuals over the past three months.”

To secure a place in the national final the team refurbished a barn at River Bourne Community Farm in Laverstock.

Luke says that the Brathay challenge has been “very rewarding” and allowed the team to engage with young people and help encourage a new generation of apprentices.