South West top apprentices and apprentice employers announced

Regional winners have been announced at the South 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 Hilton Cadbury House Hotel.

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 South West are:

Apprentice categories:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Ross Jasper, DCH
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Florence Langu, Bond Dickinson LLP
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: Jordan Cook, Airbus

And highly commended:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Chloe Causer, Plymouth City Council
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Bethanie Wiltshire, Flagship Consulting
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: James Hamilton, Airbus

Employer categories:

• Small Employer of the Year: Beauty Oasis Spa
• Medium Employer of the Year: Superior Seals Ltd
• Large Employer of the Year: Pendennis Shipyard Limited
• The Open University award for Macro Employer of the Year: Royal Air Force
• BAE Systems award for Newcomer SME: Awcock Ward Partnership
• Rolls-Royce award for Newcomer Large: NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)

And highly commended:

• Small Employer of the Year: A J Reynolds Truck Services Limited and Hunts Accountants
• Medium Employer of the Year: Puffins of Exeter Ltd and Brookside Academy
• Large Employer of the Year: Clarkson Evans Ltd
• The Open University award for Macro Employer of the Year: EDF Energy
• BAE Systems award for Newcomer SME: Tregothnan

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 South 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 South West awards are Get In Cornwall, Lifetime Training and South West Apprenticeship Ambassador Network.