Colleges celebrate Apprenticeship successes
18th March 2020 – Tags: Apprenticeships
Easton College and City College Norwich have celebrated outstanding apprentices, and Norfolk employers who have shown exceptional support for apprenticeships, at an awards night held at the John Innes Centre in Norwich.
The colleges’ 2020 Apprenticeship Awards followed on from National Apprenticeship Week, which this year highlighted the huge range of Apprenticeships available and the diversity of Apprentices undertaking them.
Eleven awards were presented to individual apprentices for their achievements and progress, with an Overall Apprentice of the Year announced on the night. Awards were also presented to four of the colleges’ employer partners in recognition of their outstanding support for Apprenticeships.
Apprentice award winners
- Service Industries Apprentice of the Year - Rachel Willis, Flint Hair
- Health Apprentice of the Year - Georgia Hunwicks-Rush, Diss Dental Health Care
- Land-Based Services Engineering Apprentice of the Year - James Galley, J Riley Beet Harvesters
- Business Apprentice of the Year - Carrie-Ann Blackall Lovewell Blake
- Agriculture Apprentice of the Year - Angel Eaglen Norfolk Free Range
- Professional Services Apprentice of the Year - Sarah Thurley, South Norfolk Council
- Digital Apprentice of the Year - Shaun Parker, Reepham High School
- Construction Apprentice of the Year (Electrical, Plumbing and Gas) - Samuel Forder, R A Brown
- Construction Apprentice of the Year (Bricklaying, Carpentry, Property Maintenance and Civil Engineering) - Aaron Mills Evolve Construction Ltd.
- Engineering Apprentice of the Year - Mark Rainer, Sidegate Motors
- Childcare, Education and Early Years Apprentice of the Year - Emily Spencer, Jack in the Box Nursery
- Overall Apprentice of the Year - Mark Rainer, Sidegate Motors
Employer award winners
- Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (Small) - Flint Hair
- Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (Medium) - Norfolk Free Range
- Apprenticeship Employer of the Year (Large) - Norfolk Community Health and Care
- Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships - Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital
The award for Small Apprenticeship Employer of the Year went to Flint Hair in Norwich. The college’s Hair Professional Team praised the high standard of Flint’s in-house training. In nominating Flint, they added:
Flint supports a new generation of hairdressers regardless of age or previous experience, making sure they are supported and are learning skills to be able to progress within Flint or for their future career elsewhere.”
The award for Medium Apprenticeship Employer of the Year went to Norfolk Free Range Limited. The awarding-winning pig farming business, which is run by Steve Hart, was praised for its support for its Apprentices:
Individual farm managers give the Apprentices lots of support on the farm, opportunities are given to any staff who want to study, and Apprentices are kept on as full time employees - with opportunities to manage sites and progress further with this innovative employer.”
The award for Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year went to Norfolk Community Health and Care. The organisation’s all-round support for Apprenticeship training, from level 2 to degree Apprenticeships, has made their contribution truly stand out:
Norfolk Community Health and Care has engaged significantly with the College over the past few years, not only to provide a number of apprentices, but more importantly to help develop and enhance the curriculum. They’ve input into the structure, delivery and content to ensure that the programmes that City College Norwich delivers meet the needs of their workforce perfectly.”
A fourth employer award, recognising the Overall Contribution to Apprenticeships over an extended period of time, was presented to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.