Top apprentices and leading employers from around the country gathered at an exclusive ceremony at London’s Grosvenor House last night to recognise the nation’s top apprentices and apprenticeship employers.
Six companies, three apprentices and one former apprentice received recognition in this year’s National Apprenticeship Awards.
Skills Minister Nick Boles said:
“Congratulations to each and every one of the National Apprenticeship Award winners. Apprenticeships truly are set to be one of the great success stories of the decade, and tonight’s winners and finalists are worthy ambassadors.
“We are committed to 3 million apprenticeships by 2020 so that even more businesses and young people can reap the benefits of apprenticeships.”
Employment Minister Priti Patel said:
“Apprenticeships offer a fantastic way for many young people of all backgrounds to earn as they learn while providing employers with the transferable skills needed to take their business from strength to strength. We currently have record-breaking levels of employment – and this is boosted by prospects like apprenticeships. I want to see this continue.
“By working closely with businesses and taking steps like rolling out our ‘Jobcentre Plus Support for Schools’ programme to teach pupils about work experience, apprenticeships and traineeships, we are helping to create an even more flexible and resilient labour market for the future.”
The award winners, representing a range of sectors and regions, fought off competition from more than 1200 entrants to receive their awards and were congratulated by Nadhim Zahawi MP, the Prime Minister’s Apprenticeship Adviser at the ceremony last night.
Nadhim Zahawi, who presented the awards, said:
“The Prime Minister has set a commitment of 3 million apprenticeship starts by 2020 and I am excited to have a role in helping to deliver this goal, while pushing to revolutionise the skills of our workforce in Britain. Good quality apprenticeships create a fairer society by giving hard working young people the chance to aim for their dream job whilst playing their part in building a stronger economy for Britain.
“There are many examples of excellent apprenticeships and apprentices in England and these winners are the best of the best. It’s an honour to have been part of these awards; to play a small part in recognising the effort of so many great businesses and to reward apprentices for their hard work and dedication. All this year’s winners should shout from the rooftops about what taking an apprenticeship has done for them or what hiring an apprentice has done for their business.”
The Awards, now in their twelfth year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service and recognise excellence in two areas: businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.
Jade Aspinall, a Manufacturing Engineer with MBDA UK and winner of the Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Higher Apprentice of the Year award, said:
““As an apprentice I am able to earn whilst I learn, gaining degree level qualifications whilst gaining the practical experience at the same time. I believe in learning through experience and my apprenticeship allowed me.
“I`m very ambitious about my future. I started university in September, studying a B.Eng in Computer Aided Engineering. I cannot have enough passion and enthusiasm for apprenticeships. Without mine, I wouldn`t be the confident, mature, challenge-driven individual I am today: greatest decision of my life. Since starting my apprenticeship my confidence has increased significantly.”
Martin Farrow, Managing Director of Buckinghamshire Care, winner of the EDF Energy Newcomer SME of the Year, said:
“We are bringing young people into our workforce, giving vibrancy and enthusiasm to a workforce where 70% are over 40. This also supports us gain new business through clients who are excited by the prospect of a young and fresh thinking workforce.
“We have seen a cultural shift within our workforce related to how they receive individuals which may be considered ‘difficult to work with`. Seeing our apprentices driving maintenance vans, handling powers tools and preparing their food challenges the stereotypes of what jobs people with disabilities can do. This is exactly what our organisation aims to do every day.
“Having people with disabilities working and visible in the organisation really brings our values to life. The training we offer gives marginalised people paid employment, vocational skills, increased social status, positive health benefits, visible community presence and enhanced self-esteem. And our apprentices are making an impact - positive customer feedback, particularly in our catering services increased by 27%.”
The night also saw the publication of the prestigious Top 100 Apprenticeship Employer list which is compiled annually by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with City & Guilds and recognises excellence in businesses that employ apprentices.
The list features the most exceptional apprenticeship employers from all National Apprenticeship Awards employer categories and showcases the breadth of employers who now offer apprenticeships.
To find out more about the benefits of apprenticeships and traineeships, search on gov.uk
National Apprenticeship Award Winners
Individual winners
Category |
Apprentice |
Employer |
Town |
McDonald’s Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year |
Kathleen Sandford |
The Community Housing Group |
Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs WM |
The EAL Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year |
Joshua White |
IBM United Kingdom Ltd |
Fillongley, Coventry WM |
Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies |
Jade Aspinall |
MBDA UK Ltd |
Wigan NM Manchster |
The City & Guilds Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year |
Neil Cain |
John O'Conner (Grounds Maintenance) Ltd |
Kimpton, Hertfordshire EE |
Individual Highly Commended
Category |
Apprentice |
Employer |
Town |
McDonald’s Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year |
Ashleigh Everett |
Boldero and Filby |
Hunstanton, Norfolk EE |
Freya Ward |
Mike Maynard |
East Wittering, Chichester SE |
|
The EAL Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year |
Lauren Tiller |
BT |
Leighton Buzzard, Beds London |
April Bell |
Monica F Hewitt |
Sheffield Y and H |
|
Nuclear Decommissioning Site Licence Companies Award for |
Sean Norgate |
BT |
Harrow, Middlesex London |
Joanne Sharples |
BAE Systems |
St. Anne's on Sea, Lancs NW Liverpool |
|
The City & Guilds Award for Apprenticeship Champion of the Year |
Michael Motley |
TQ Training |
Barwell, Leicester EM |
Joshua Uwadiae |
Superlative Youth |
London |
Employer winners
Category |
Company name |
Main location |
Unilever Award for Small Employer of the Year |
Adary Joiners |
Oldham, NW Manchester |
E.ON in partnership with the National Skills Academy for Power Award for Medium Employer of the Year |
Genix Healthcare Ltd |
Leeds Y and H |
The BAE Systems Award for Large Employer of the Year |
Liebherr GB Ltd |
Biggleswade, Bedfordshire EM |
The BT Award for Macro Employer of the Year |
BAE Systems Plc |
London |
EDF Energy Award for Newcomer SME of the Year |
Buckinghamshire Care |
High Wycombe Buckinghamshire SW – TV and S |
Rolls-Royce Award for Newcomer Large Employer of the Year |
Be Wiser Insurance |
Andover, Hampshire SE |
Employer Highly Commended
Category |
Company name |
Main location |
Unilever Award for Small Employer of the Year |
Snow-Camp |
Hove, East Sussex SE |
Beauty Oasis Spa |
Weston Supermare, Somerset SW |
|
E.ON in partnership with the National Skills Academy for Power Award |
Bango.net Ltd |
Cambridge EE |
Troup Bywaters + Anders |
London |
|
The BAE Systems Award for Large Employer of the Year |
KMF |
Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire W Manchester |
Clarkson Evans Ltd |
Gloucester, Gloucestershire SW, TV and S |
|
The BT Award for Macro Employer of the Year |
Sellafield Ltd |
Seascale, Cumbria NW Liverpool, Cumbria and Lancs |
Lloyds Banking Group |
Leeds Y and H |
|
EDF Energy Award for Newcomer SME of the Year
|
Travelbag |
Brighton, East Sussex SE |
Vector 7 |
Honiton, Devon SW |
|
Rolls-Royce Award for Newcomer Large Employer of the Year |
UBS Wealth Management |
Reading London |
Highways England |
Birmingham WM |
The City & Guilds Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers
- Ginger Nut Media
- Suffolk Canine Creche Limited
- Bango.net Ltd
- B3Living Limited
- e2v Technologies UK Ltd
- MBDA
- Computacenter
- Greene King
- Hertfordshire County Council
- Forensic Healthcare Services Ltd
- Oaks Hospital
- Freedom Communications (UK) Ltd
- Aidan J Reed (branded now as AJR)
- emh group
- Liebherr GB Ltd
- Travis Perkins
- Kwik-Fit (GB) Ltd
- National Grid
- Keybridge IT Solutions
- Troup Bywaters + Anders
- Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
- Breyer Group plc
- Lancaster London
- Barclays Bank plc
- BAE Systems Plc
- IBM UK Ltd
- Sweett Group PLC
- Haymarket Media
- UBS Wealth Management
- Sotech Limited
- Caterpillar Peterlee Ltd.
- Gestamp Tallent Ltd
- PROPS North East
- Arthur Padgett Limited
- Prima Software Ltd
- A & G Precision and Sons Ltd
- Weightmans LLP
- Silentnight Brands
- Unilever UK Limited
- Aintree University Hospital
- Sellafield Ltd
- Eden Rivers Trust
- Driscolls Antiques Ltd
- Wardworth Ltd t/a Ladderstore
- Adary Joiners
- Heat Trace Ltd
- UKFast
- Tangerine
- KMF
- Aspire Group
- Barclays RBB Technology
- Elior UK
- United Utilities
- Metamorphic PR
- AstraZeneca IT
- ao.com
- Snow-Camp
- Arqiva
- SGN
- British Army
- Kent County Council
- KFC GB LTD
- Travelbag
- Andreas Stihl Ltd
- Be Wiser Insurance
- Beauty Oasis Spa
- River Cottage Ltd
- The Seafood Restaurant
- South West Water Limited
- Plymouth City Council
- Vector 7
- Crayon Limited
- Isys Intelligent Systems
- DAF Trucks
- Clarkson Evans Ltd
- Amey Plc
- Virgin Media
- Gigney Enterprises CIC
- Buckinghamshire Care
- Hovis Ltd
- Microsoft UK
- ISO Quality Services Ltd
- Green Lighting Ltd
- Redrow Homes
- The Community Housing Group
- The Landscape Group
- Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
- Compass Group UK & Ireland
- eTech Solutions Ltd
- Highways England
- Halfords Ltd (Retail)
- Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
- Yorkshire Coast Homes
- Genix Healthcare Ltd
- Margaret & Michael Naylor & Associates
- Portakabin Ltd
- Wakefield Council
- Yorkshire Water
- Lloyds Banking Group
- Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre Limited
For more information about the National Apprenticeship Awards and Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers, search on Gov.uk