A TRAINEE firefighter has been recognised for her effort and hard work by South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue.

Emily Pierrepont, from Cudworth, was presented with the Silver Axe Award after being voted top recruit by a team of training instructors.

The award is a long-standing tradition, which is presented to the top recruit on a firefighter trainee course.

Emily said: “I’m really honoured to have received the award, there was 18 people in the cohort I’m in, so to be recognised makes me very proud.”

Emily, 22, was the only female finalist in the category, and one of only four women in the 36 graduates.

She added: “It’s great to see more women getting into firefighting, and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue are quite involved with it as well.

“Having a woman like me recognised could inspire a lot of younger girls to come into it as well.”

Emily also told the Chronicle of the ‘the great service support’ on offer at the service during her training.

She added: “From the instructors to the canteen workers to the cleaners, everyone has been really positive and helpful.”

Jane Ripley, Emily’s step-mother, also spoke of her pride for Emily’s achievement.

She said: “Emily’s worked so hard for this and never given up.

“I won’t say it’s been an easy ride but I’m more than proud.”

Jane added: “It’s a tough environment for a woman to get through, but whatever Emily has done she has excelled in.”

Emily was presented with the award by deputy chief fire officer, Andrew Strelczenie, at a graduation ceremony for trainees last weekend.

Emily is also a keen footballer, having previously become the first player to reach 100 appearances at previous club Barnsley Women’s FC.

She has since paused football to focus on her training, but she’s been able to carry over some of the skills most vital on the pitch.

She added: “A lot of skills that you learn from playing football carried over when I went into my training.

“There’s the fitness aspect that helped as well, and obviously the need to enjoy what you’re doing.”

Emily had been taken on a trip of Cudworth fire station by her step-mum when se was younger - something which further inspired her to join the force.

Jane added: “I took her there when she was younger and she got to see all the kit and set up there, and it became a dream really.

“Even though she went off to college and then got a degree, she applied last year and now her ultimate goal is to be a full-time firefighter.”