Who will win a National Apprenticeship Award?
The 2021 National Apprenticeship Awards is now underway. Hundreds of Apprentices and Companies across the UK have entered the nine categories and Regional finalists will be announced next month. Who, from across the Liverpool City Region, will be recognised for their apprenticeship achievements?
The National Apprenticeship Awards is in its 18th year. It showcases apprenticeships including individuals who are working hard to gain their apprenticeships through to organisations that are employing apprentices. They have one thing in common, they have embraced apprenticeships with zest and are benefitting from the success that comes with that energy and tenacity. Awards are made at a regional level initially. Finalists from each region head to a national final awards ceremony in November.
Last year Charlotte Callister, digital marketing apprentice at Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, was highly commended as an advanced level Apprentice in the regionals. Alex Headspith, a former apprentice and now Mechanical Technician at the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory, made the national final. He was nominated for the BT sponsored award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year. One of nine nominees, he represented the North West region having won the regional final. “To be named North West’s Advanced Apprentice of the year was amazing. It’s one of my greatest personal achievements and I am so proud to be recognised in this way,” said Alex.
Apprenticeships are helping employers to thrive and apprentices to follow their dreams. The awards provide an opportunity to celebrate the very best employers, apprentices and apprenticeship champions across the country. The winner of the Advanced Apprentice Award last year was Chris Jones from JCB, the West Midlands’ regional finalist. “I think it’s important to enter these awards to help people learn more about the apprenticeship opportunity. People need to know more about this great opportunity to earn, work and learn,” Alex enthuses.
Jonathan Aghanian, Apprenticeship Coordinator at Daresbury Laboratory, agrees: “We want more people to know about Apprenticeships and the opportunities they provide across all sectors of industry. Across the Liverpool region Be-More is a great source of information and a place where STFC and other local companies advertise their apprenticeship opportunities. You should check out their website.”
This year the National Apprenticeship Awards has nine categories. There are three Apprentice of the year categories, Intermediate Apprentice, Advanced Apprentice and Higher or Degree Apprentice. Apprentices will also compete for the Rising Star Award. Employers also compete for the Employer of the Year Categories. These are SME Employer of the Year, Large Employer of the Year and Macro Employer of the Year. In addition there is The Recruitment Excellence Award. The Apprenticeship Champion of the Year is a further award that celebrates individuals who go above and beyond to champion apprenticeships.
If you would like further information on apprenticeships and how to apply for them, talk to the Apprenticeship Support by Be More Team They provide impartial information and advice on apprenticeships across the Liverpool City Region. Also, you can find current opportunities on the Be More website.
