Leeds #Apprentices Win Coveted National Education Awards

Pearson, the world’s learning company, has recognised the extraordinary achievements of students gaining BTEC qualifications at the ninth annual BTEC Awards at Central Hall Westminster. Leeds College of Building Apprentices were among those celebrating. 

Christopher Meredith, a Civil Engineering student, was crowned winner of the BTEC Award for 19+ Apprentice of the Year. The judges were so impressed, Christopher was chosen as the recipient of the coveted overall BTEC Student of the Year 2019 Award.

BTEC Apprentice 19+ of the Year and our first BTEC Student of the Year for 2019 is Christopher Meredith from @leedscollegebuilding, The judges were so impressed with his journey to achieving a Higher Level Apprenticeship. #BTECAwards19 #apprenticeships pic.twitter.com/jISmC9hc6r

— Pearson Apprentice (@PearsonAppr) July 4, 2019

Fellow Leeds College of Building Apprentice, Connor Coupland (AOne+ employee and an ICE Quest Technician Scholar), was also given gold in the national BTEC Award for 16-18 Apprentice of the Year 2019, and Jordan Woods won the bronze award for the Construction Student of the Year. Lecturer, Joanna Elvy, won the bronze award for the Teacher/Tutor of the Year.

Well done LCB student Connor Coupland for winning BTEC Apprentice of the Year 16-18 at the #BTECAwards19 ??@BTECStudents #MakeItHere pic.twitter.com/vjwdz1ugWs

— Leeds College of Building (@LCB_Building) July 4, 2019

Spanning 24 categories, the Pearson BTEC Awards were hosted by financial journalist and TV Presenter Steph McGovern. They showcase the fantastic effort made by students to gain recognised qualifications which are heavily in demand from employers and universities.

The ceremony was attended by the winners, their families and teachers as well as leading representatives from education and business. An expert panel of 52 judges carefully considered each nominee before deciding upon a winner.

     Members of Parliament and celebrities were also present alongside the winners and judges to hear the students’ success stories and present them with their Awards. Double Olympic Gold medallist and BTEC Ambassador Max Whitlock presented the Award for BTEC School of the Year 2019 and shared with Steph McGovern his experiences competing as one of the world’s elite sportsmen, the importance of teamwork, and his goals for Tokyo 2020.

Also performing on the day were the four winners of the Showstopper Challenge, groups from schools and colleges offering BTECs in the performing arts: Deanery High School, D16 Performing Arts College, Jackie Palmer Academy and Bury College.

Rod Bristow, President of Pearson in the UK, said:

“All of those that won this year deserve huge congratulations and stand every chance of continuing that success into the careers they are now ready to start. This year’s awards are a fantastic celebration of them, alongside the schools, colleges, universities, training providers, and employers who have underpinned their efforts. But I also want to congratulate every single one of the hundreds of thousands of students who will be awarded a BTEC qualification this year. All of them now have the confidence that they have earned a qualification which is recognised by employers small and large, by universities across Britain and around the world.”

Derek Whitehead, CEO & Principal at Leeds College of Building, said:

“We are delighted with the achievement of our Apprentices, winning some of the top awards in education against strong competition in the sector. Receiving these outstanding accolades is a testament to the hard work of these Apprentices but also the dedication of the staff at Leeds College of Building. Our civil engineering apprentices have won one of the National BTEC Apprentice awards for the past six years, and we are delighted to be recognised and showcased on this national platform.”

Vicky Patterson, Curriculum Manager for Technical and Professional Apprenticeships at Leeds College of Building, said:

“I am incredibly proud of our Apprentices. We continually try to go above and beyond our normal duties to enhance the Apprentices’ experiences and ensure that we produce the most creative and brilliant young Technicians and Engineers of the future. Special thanks to the employers associated with the College for their continued support and the opportunities they provide to our students and apprentices; together, we can play our part in supporting industry needs.”

Christopher, who works for Jacobs, said:

 “I didn’t have the best start in life, but I am now a successful person and role model, and it is all thanks to BTEC. I am so grateful […] Recently, I was awarded the ICE QUEST Technician Plus Scholarship, which is given to exemplary apprentices who demonstrate exceptional potential. My employer and lecturers were there to see me receive my award. I was very honoured.”

Jacobs Vice President Highways Europe, Vip Gandhi, said:

“Many congratulations to Chris. We’re very proud of his terrific achievement and the effort he has invested into his Apprenticeship with Jacobs. He is building meaningful and valuable skills which provide a really strong foundation to develop his career. We look forward to supporting Chris as he builds on this success and seizes the opportunities to shape his future.”

Christopher Meredith

BTEC Student of the Year 2019, Christopher, left school very disillusioned and without GCSEs, having been frequently suspended. He was one of eight siblings and desperately wanted to change his life around.

Christopher achieved a BTEC Level 1, enrolled onto a BTEC level 2, and thrived so much he progressed onto the Level 3.

Following a successful work placement, he was offered an Apprenticeship, and has never looked back. This June, Chris will achieve his Level 5 and progress onto a Degree Apprenticeship.

About Leeds College of Building: Established in 1960, it is the only specialist further education construction college in the UK. The College currently has over 6,000 students and offers a comprehensive range of more than 200 courses related to construction and the built environment, including apprenticeships, further and higher education, and business training. In 2018, The College was awarded BTEC Apprenticeship Provider of the Year.

Leeds College of Building recently expanded their estates portfolio and officially opened phase two of their South Bank Campus, a £13-million development. It sits in a prominent position alongside the existing College building between Cudbear Street and Black Bull Street. The new state-of-the-art 5,200 square metre, four-storey building boasts a range of classrooms, workshops and a dynamic central atrium, which acts as the building’s main communal and circulation space.

About Jacobs: Leading the global professional services sector providing solutions for a more connected, sustainable world, with approximately $12 billion in revenue and a talent force of more than 50,000, Jacobs provides a full spectrum of services including scientific, technical, professional and construction- and program-management for business, industrial, commercial, government and infrastructure sectors. 

About Pearson: They have overseen BTEC qualifications for over 30 years. Employers know that a BTEC qualification will mean candidates are work-ready, and have the knowledge and practical skills to make a contribution from day one in the workplace. BTEC’s hands-on, vocational qualifications continue to be respected as a valuable route straight into employment and are also accepted by all but one of Britain’s universities as a route into employment via higher education.

In a recent poll, Pearson has found that two-thirds of medium-sized businesses have hired BTEC graduates in the last five years, and over a quarter of students going on to university do so with a BTEC. An overwhelming majority of employers and young people want to keep their options open at 16, and gain a blend of academic and practical skills which the BTEC offers.

Pearson is the world’s learning company with more than 24,000 employees operating in 70 countries. We combine world-class educational content and assessment, powered by services and technology, to enable more effective teaching and personalized learning at scale. We believe that wherever learning flourishes so do people.

The final judging panel comprised of:

• Cindy Rampersaud: Senior Vice President, BTEC and Apprenticeships, Pearson
• Vanessa Wright, Vice President, Sales and Marketing, UK Schools, Pearson
• Manos Kapterian, Chief Operating Officer, Core and Growth Markets, Pearson
• Derek Richardson: Vice President, Responsible Officer Quality Services & Governance, Pearson
• Macgregor Williams, Vice President, Strategy and Marketing, Asia Pacific, Pearson
• Andrew Phillips, Managing Director, Europe and Africa, Pearson
• Tommy Robinson, BTEC Teacher of the Year 2018 and Head of Performing Arts, John Madejski Academy
• Shane Mann: Managing Director, Lsect Ltd