Region’s best apprentices and apprenticeship employers celebrated

The National Apprenticeship Awards, now in their 12th year, celebrate the success of the country’s most exceptional apprentices and apprenticeship employers. The awards challenge top apprenticeship employers and apprentices across England to come forward and show how apprenticeships have made a real difference to their organisation and careers.

Yorkshire and the Humber winners and highly commended entries were announced at a high profile awards ceremony organised by the National Apprenticeship Service, which was held at the Northern Ballet, in Leeds.

Businesses and apprentices fought off tough competition to win this year’s coveted awards.

This year’s full list of winners for Yorkshire and the Humber are:

McDonald’s Award for Intermediate Apprentice of the Year
Karolina Polniaszek, Superdrug (A.S.Watson), Pontefract. 

EAL Award for Advanced Apprentice of the Year
April Bell, Monica F Hewitt Florists, Sheffield

Highly Commended: Kathrine Rundell, Third Energy UK Gas Ltd, East Knapton; Ruby Magson, Hemingway Bailey Chartered Accountants, Beverley 

City & Guilds Apprenticeship Champion of the Year
Martin Kennedy, Portakabin Group, York. 

Highly Commended: Matthew Weeks, Bluefin Insurance Services, Market Rasen

Medium Employer of the Year
Genix Healthcare Ltd., Leeds

Highly commended: Yorkshire Coast Homes, Scarborough; Margaret & Michael Naylor & Associates, Sheffield

BAE Systems Award for Large Employer of the Year
Portakabin Group, York 

Highly commended: Wakefield Council, Wakefield; Yorkshire Water, Bradford

BT Award for Macro Employer of the Year
Lloyds Banking Group, Leeds. 

Highly commended: Hull City Council, Hull

EDF Energy Award for Newcomer SME of the Year
Sheffield Media and Exhibition Centre Limited, Sheffield. 

Clare Bonson, head of employer and delivery services for Yorkshire and the Humber for the National Apprenticeship Service, said:  “Apprenticeships deliver for businesses, individuals and the economy. They enable people to gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, in some cases up to degree level, while working and earning. For businesses, hiring apprentices is a productive and effective way for them to grow their own talent by developing a motivated, skilled and qualified workforce. 

“The National Apprenticeship Awards enable talented apprentices and committed employers to receive the recognition they richly deserve. They not only help celebrate the achievements of apprentices and businesses, allowing them to gain the credit for investing in their own futures, but they drive up quality and encourage others to get involved. 

“Today’s winners are the best of the best in Yorkshire and the Humber and I would like to congratulate them on their achievements. They deserve to be rewarded for their efforts. There has never been a better time to become an apprentice or employ one.”

Following the regional ceremonies, the winners from each category in all 11 areas of England will have their entries sent for national judging, and three from each category will be selected as national finalists. 

The apprenticeship employer entries that were judged to be the very best of the best will have the additional honour of featuring in the Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, which will be produced by the National Apprenticeship Service.

The national award winners and Top 100 Employers will be revealed at a ceremony held in January 2016 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Visit apprenticeships.gov.uk or call 08000 150 600 to find out more about apprenticeships. 

Sponsors of this year’s Yorkshire and the Humber Regional Apprenticeship Awards 2015 include: