Worcestershire Apprenticeships held its 10th annual awards evening on 28 November, honouring the very best in apprenticeships across the county.
This year’s awards marked the 10th anniversary of Worcestershire Apprenticeships, with over a decade of supporting the growth of apprenticeships in the county. This could be evidenced best with the 2024 awards setting a new record for the number of finalists.
Over 315 representatives from employers, apprentices, schools, training providers and ambassadors attended the West Midlands Safari Park for the prestigious celebration.
12 winners were crowned, with the highly coveted Worcestershire Apprentice of the year named as Dillon Ford from Roxel Group UK, sponsored by Seetec and Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year announced as Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd, sponsored by Sanctuary.
Attendees also had a thoroughly enjoyable evening thanks to the excellent awards host, entrepreneur, author and radio broadcaster, Ed James.
Ed James, entrepreneur, author and radio broadcaster, and host of this year’s Worcestershire Apprenticeship Awards said: “It was a real pleasure to be the host of the 2024 Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards. The evening was a magnificent celebration of the outstanding individuals and organisations who are showcasing the success of apprenticeships in the county.
“I’d like to congratulate all the finalists and winners and urge them to carry on the fantastic work of undertaking, providing and promoting apprenticeships.”
Worcestershire Apprenticeships was created by the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership and Worcestershire County Council to act as an impartial brand to unite the promotion and support for apprenticeships across the community.
Over the last 10 years Worcestershire Apprenticeships has:
- Directly supported over 30,000 young people around apprenticeships.
- Delivered over 1,300 activity sessions and information events.
- Assisted over 2,000 employers around apprenticeships.
To commemorate this milestone and recognise the impact of Worcestershire Apprenticeships, a special brochure was created to shine a light on the achievements and value of the programme.
Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I would like to congratulate all of the finalists and winners from this year’s Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards. You should all be incredibly proud of your efforts and I hope that you can continue to champion the apprenticeship pathway.
“To celebrate 10 years of Worcestershire Apprenticeships during the evening was fantastic and really demonstrated the passion in the county for apprenticeships. We have been able to achieve some remarkable achievements thanks to the drive of the team, and crucially the support of local employers, training providers and apprentices.”
Councillor Adam Kent, Cabinet Member for Economy and Skills at Worcestershire County Council, said: “Congratulations to all the winners and finalists of this year’s awards. The evening was a fantastic celebration of apprenticeships across the county, and it was an honour to be part of such a special event.
The success of the Worcestershire Apprenticeships programme over the past decade truly highlights how apprenticeships can be a powerful pathway for both individuals and businesses to thrive.”
The full list of winners from the 2024 Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards can be found below or on the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website. – https://worcsapprenticeships.org.uk/worcestershire-apprenticeships-events/annual-apprenticeship-awards/
To find out more about the achievements and impact of Worcestershire Apprenticeships over the past decade, read the 10 year celebration brochure via the link here. – https://worcsapprenticeships.org.uk/empowering-futures-a-decade-of-worcestershire-apprenticeships/
Stay updated on the work of Worcestershire Apprenticeship by visiting the Worcestershire Apprenticeships website or using the hashtag #WorcsApprentice across social media.
2024 Worcestershire Apprenticeships Awards Winners
Support Awards
School of the Year – sponsored by Kidderminster College
- Wolverley CE Secondary School & Sixth Form
Training Provider of the Year – sponsored by Phosters FM Ltd
- University of Worcester
Apprentice Ambassador of the Year – sponsored by Heart of Worcestershire College
- Katie Davies from Sanctuary
Employer Awards
Small Apprenticeship Employer of the Year – sponsored by Worcestershire Growth Hub
- Blackwell Adventures
Medium Apprenticeship Employer of the Year – sponsored by Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
- Ormerod Rutter Chartered Accountants
Large Apprenticeship Employer of the Year – sponsored by Open GI
- Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd
Apprentice Awards
Intermediate Level Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Worcestershire Education Business Partnership
- Tolly Wilson from Theataaccounts Limited
Advanced Level Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Faun Zoeller UK
- Emelia Hughes from Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd
Higher Level Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Platform Housing Group
- Joshua Garland from Dolphin Computers
Degree Level Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd
- Dillon Ford from Roxel Group UK
Worcestershire Apprenticeship Employer of the Year – sponsored by Sanctuary
Yamazaki Mazak UK Ltd
Worcestershire Apprentice of the Year – sponsored by Seetec
Dillon Ford from Roxel Group UK