North West top apprentices and apprentice employers announced

Regional winners have been announced at the North West celebration of the National Apprenticeship Awards 2017.

The National Apprenticeship Awards, now in their 14th year, showcase the successes and benefits of apprenticeships across England in the last year. We announced the winners and highly commended entries at an awards ceremony held at the Titanic Hotel, Liverpool.

Apprentices and employers fought off tough competition by demonstrating how businesses are growing their own talent pool with apprenticeships and how apprentices have made a significant contribution to their workplace.

This year’s winners for the North West – Greater Manchester, Cheshire and Staffordshire are:

Apprentice categories:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Shannon Green, Althams Travel Services Ltd
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Thomas Beswick, BAE Systems
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: Ryan Coram, AstraZeneca
• Apprenticeship Champion: Lois McClure, The Co-op

And highly commended:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Joshua Hudson, Jon-Son Motors
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Vincent Goodall, Siemens Digital Factory Process Industries and Drives and William Heath, Severn Trent Water
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: Darren Wilson, Barclays Bank plc
• Apprenticeship Champion: Alison Cresswell, Stockport Council

Employer categories:

• Small Employer of the Year: Alvanley Family Practice
• Medium Employer of the Year: JLES Group Limited
• Large Employer of the Year: KMF Precision Sheet Metal Limited
• The Open University award for Macro Employer of the Year: United Utilities

And highly commended:

• Medium Employer of the Year: Bennett Verby Ltd
• Large Employer of the Year: A-Plant
• The Open University award for Macro Employer of the Year: Busy Bees Training

This year’s winners for the North West – Liverpool City Region, Cumbria and Lancashire are:

Apprentice categories:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Frankie Haggerty, Forbes Solicitors
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Lydia Rowell, Sellafield Ltd
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: Portia Taylor-Black, West Lancashire Borough Council

And highly commended:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Dominic Ogden, The Department for Work and Pensions and Sineaid O’Sullivan, Aintree University Hospital
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Danyelle Haines, Glaxosmithkline and Jonathan Holding, WEC Group Ltd
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: Sandra Shaw, Castle Supported Living and Laura Wilson, Unilever

Employer categories:

• Small Employer of the Year: Hairlucinations
• Medium Employer of the Year: Machmade Ltd
• Large Employer of the Year: Seafood Pub Company
• Macro Employer of the Year: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

And highly commended:

• Small Employer of the Year: Crowberry Consulting Ltd
• Medium Employer of the Year: Printed Cup Company and St Helens Chamber
• Large Employer of the Year: WEC Group and Silentnight Brands
• Macro Employer of the Year: Lifeways Community Care Ltd

Following the 6 regional ceremonies taking place across England, winners from each category will have their entries sent for national judging. Three from each category will then be selected as national finalists. The very best employer category entries are also in the running to feature in the prestigious Centrica sponsored Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list 2017.

Skills and Apprenticeships Minister Anne Milton said:

The National Apprenticeship Awards are a fantastic way to demonstrate the incredible benefits and contributions of both apprentices and their employers across the country.

My personal congratulations go out to everyone who has taken part in the National Apprenticeship Awards so far, and also to those heading to the national finals. You truly are worthy ambassadors for apprenticeships.

Sue Husband, director, National Apprenticeship Service, added:

The National Apprenticeship Awards allow talented apprentices and committed employers from across our regions to receive well-deserved recognition for their apprenticeship achievements. In turn I hope that the exposure given to winners encourages more employers and individuals to get involved.

Winners recognised today in the North West region show the range of sectors and variety of job roles apprenticeships are available in, and how they can deliver the skills employers need. I congratulate all winners and highly commended finalists on their success. For those heading to the national finals, I wish them the very best of luck for the next stage of the competition.

National award winners and the Top 100 Employers will be announced at a ceremony to be held on 18 January 2018 in London.

This year’s sponsors for the North West awards are Lancashire Skills Hub and Progress to Excellence.