Midlands’ top apprentices and apprentice employers announced

Regional winners have been announced at the Midlands 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 Sketchley Grange Hotel, Leicestershire.

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 East Midlands are:

Apprentice categories:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Matthew Gustard, Nottingham City Homes
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Heeran Basi, Severn Trent Water Ltd
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: Darren Stawarz, Knorr-Bremse RailServices (UK) Ltd

And highly commended:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Whitney Eldred, Savers (Part of AS Watson)
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Leigh Worsdale, Foxwood Diesel
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: Harriet Futers, Rolls-Royce Plc and Elizabeth Lothian, Knorr-Bremse RailServices (UK) Ltd

Employer categories:

• Small Employer of the Year: Dental22
• Medium Employer of the Year: Knorr-Bremse RailServices (UK) Ltd
• Large Employer of the Year: Nottingham City Homes *The Open University award for Macro Employer of the Year: Travis Perkins PLC

And highly commended:

• Medium Employer of the Year: Canal Engineering Ltd and Imperial Commercials Ltd
• Large Employer of the Year: Ramsay Health Care UK

This year’s winners for the West Midlands are:

Apprentice categories:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Ella Jackson, Robert Welch Designs Ltd
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Daniel Millington, Hydraforce Hydraulics Ltd
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: Jamie Meininger, IBM United Kingdom Ltd
• Apprenticeship Champion: Helena Baxter, Worcestershire Apprenticeships

And highly commended:

• Intermediate Apprentice of the Year: Arron Jones, Places for People Leisure
• Advanced Apprentice of the Year: Lauren Tolliday, Jaguar Land Rover Limited
• Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Site Licence Companies award for Higher or Degree Apprentice of the Year: Rebecca Lloyd, Balfour Beatty Ltd and James Doughty, Jaguar Land Rover Limited
• Apprenticeship Champion: Louise Clark, Marstons Inns and Taverns

Employer categories:

• Small Employer of the Year: Sixth Sense Salon
• Medium Employer of the Year: TDS Midlands Ltd
• Large Employer of the Year: Volvo Group UK and Eire
• BAE Systems award for Newcomer SME of the Year: Lander Automotive Ltd
• Macro Employer of the Year: BBC

And highly commended:

• Small Employer of the Year: Green Lighting Ltd
• Large Employer of the Year: Redrow Homes and Worcestershire Health & Care NHS Trust
• Macro Employer of the Year: Severn Trent and Aldi Stores 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 Midlands 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 Midlands awards are Sanctuary Housing and Severn Trent Water.