Apprentices and employers from a wide range of companies and industries from across the country gathered together last night (Thursday 22 November) to celebrate the successes of the past year during Learning Unlimited’s first ever National Apprenticeship Awards.
During a glittering ceremony at Pond’s Forge in Sheffield, awards were presented to businesses and individuals in recognition of their dedication, work and commitment to developing a skilled workforce though apprenticeships. TV personality and journalist, Helen Fospero, presented the awards to those who had been chosen from the hundreds of nominations received from peers and managers.
Mark Bennington, Vice Principal Commercial Services and Enterprise at the Chesterfield College Group, said: “The Learning Unlimited National Apprenticeship Awards provided us with the opportunity to recognise the value of apprenticeships and the employers who are invested in the apprenticeship model. Each award presented during the evening represented the positive impact on each and everyone of those individuals and businesses. We look forward to working with our apprentices and businesses over the coming year and look forward to next year’s Apprenticeship Awards!”
Derby engineering apprentice, Kyle Stewart, of DEB Chemicals, won the title of the National Apprentice of the Year. On winning the award, Kyle said: “It feels amazing to have won Apprentice of the Year. It was a total surprise to win! I’ve been an apprentice at DEB for two and a half years and I’ve enjoyed every single moment meeting people that I will never forget. I am really grateful for how the company has invested in me, and keeps on doing so, and I cannot think of a better place that I could be right now. This apprenticeship has provided me with the skills and knowledge required to be a successful engineer. It has also made me the person that I am today.”
The full list of winners were:
Newcomer of the Year (sponsored by the Heathcotes Group) – Winner – Bumbles Day Nursery. Finalists were: Tameside Radio and Briggs of Burton
Investment in Apprentices (sponsored by The Lilypad Café and Restaurant) – Winner – Read Roper Read. Finalists were: MVIS, Accrofab, and Alphaweld.
Partner of the Year – Winner – Bakers, Food and Allied Workers’ Union. Finalists were: Slack and Parr, NTAR, and Tulip Ltd.
Small Employer of the Year – Winner – Wilson Howe. Finalists were: Sherwood Electronics, and DOR Electrical.
Medium Employer of the Year – Winner – Graphoidal Developments Ltd. Finalists were: Ashgate Hospicecare, and Refresco.
Large Employer of the Year – Winner – Heathcotes. Finalists were: Bombardier, and Tarmac.
Employer of the Year – Derbyshire Constabulary.
Outstanding Contribution to Delivery (sponsored by Skills & Education Group) – Winner – Stef Monks. Finalists were: Jennifer Dyke, Helen Payne, Mark Dixon, Fliss Shaw, Jonathan Price, Martin Thomas, James Lund, Wendy Taylor, and Kate Barker.
Chesterfield College Group’s Principal’s Award: Winner – Stef Monks
Intermediate Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Looks Salon) – Winner – Tillie Woolliscroft (MVIS), Finalists were: Jessie Lambkin (David Mason Design), and Jake Banton (Bombardier).
Advanced Apprentice of the Year – Winner – Luke Bunting (Bombardier). Finalists were: George Sheldon (MVIS), and Polly Oakes (Fifteen).
Higher Apprentice of the Year – Winnner – James Bateman (Derbyshire Constabulary). Finalists were: James Marshall (Royal Mail), and Cameron Landa (Bombardier).
Dedication to Apprenticeship – Winner – Amy Flint (Blackwell Primary School). Finalists were: Liam Quinby (Bombardier), and Sian Jones (Royal Mail).
AND the Apprentice of the Year (sponsored by Bombardier) – Kyle Stewart of DEB Chemicals.