Member Article

Yorkshire and Humberside celebrates its apprenticeship success stories

Apprentices and Apprenticeship employers across the region are celebrating after taking home top prizes at the Yorkshire and Humberside National Apprenticeship Awards 2014.

The winners and highly commended entries were announced at the prestigious awards ceremony, which was held at the Carriageworks Theatre in Leeds on 3rd September.

The National Apprenticeship Awards, now in their eleventh year, are run by the National Apprenticeship Service and recognise excellence in two areas: businesses that grow their own talent with apprentices and apprentices who have made a significant contribution to their workplaces.

The winners included AIT Ltd, a technology integration company based in Leeds, which was presented with the regional Newcomer SME of the Year award and Natasha Pitts, an Advanced Manufacturing Engineering apprentice from Scarborough, who scooped the regional Unilever Higher Apprentice of the Year.

Nikki Evans, from AIT, said: “This award is a fantastic achievement for us, we couldn’t be happier. Supporting apprentices has helped the development of others in the organisation, resulting in improved job satisfaction and customer service. Apprenticeships will be a viable route to future talent for the organisation.”

The six Yorkshire and Humberside employer category winners enjoying success at the awards ceremony were joined by three apprentice award category winners, including 20-year-old Evie Molloy, an Accounting apprentice from Beverley. Evie works for Hemingway Bailey and won the hotly contested Yorkshire and Humberside learndirect Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award.

Evie, added: “I am over the moon with my award and thrilled that my Apprenticeship has been so successful. Even two of my friends have since been inspired to do an Apprenticeship!”

All the Yorkshire and Humberside winners will proceed through to a final national judging stage, and the Apprenticeship employer entries judged to be the very best of the best will have the additional honour of featuring in the acclaimed Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers list, which will be produced by the National Apprenticeship Service in partnership with City & Guilds.

The Top 100 Apprenticeship Employers and the national award winners will be revealed during the national ceremony at the LG Arena in Birmingham on the 13thNovember.

Nick Wilson, Deputy Director Employer & Delivery Services North East (including Yorkshire and Humber), said:

“The National Apprenticeship Awards are an excellent platform to recognise and celebrate the dedication shown by all our excellent Apprenticeship employers and apprentices. The quality of entries we have had for the Yorkshire and Humberside awards this year has been exceptional. Those who have won should celebrate their success. But every apprentice and employer who entered can be proud of what they have achieved.

“We want it to become the norm for young people to choose between an Apprenticeship or university as equally prestigious routes to a great career and a secure financial future. Apprenticeships are at the heart of the Government’s drive to equip people with the skills employers need to grow and compete. A campaign is calling on young people to “Get In, Go Far” by choosing an Apprenticeship and with the huge range available across England, there has never been a better time to become an apprentice. They enable people to gain the skills and knowledge they need to succeed, in some cases up to degree level, while working and earning.

“Apprenticeships continue to grow in popularity, and events like the National Apprenticeship Awards showcase just how beneficial they are for both employers and individuals. I hope everyone who received an award on the night is proud of their achievements, and continues to fly the flag for Apprenticeships throughout their career.”

Visit apprenticeships.org.uk or call 08000 150 600 to find out more about Apprenticeships

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Alison Eddy .