Apprenticeship Awards celebrates homegrown talent

Jun 9 2009 by Graeme Brown, Birmingham Post

A host of enterprising businesspeople were rewarded at the finals of an awards scheme last week.

The Learning and Skills Council West Midlands hosted the regional finals of the Apprenticeship Awards which aims to celebrate the best homegrown talent in the region.

The ceremony, which was hosted by Ed James and Rachel New of Heart FM’s breakfast show, included categories for Young Apprentice of the Year and Apprentice and Advanced Apprenticeship.

The ceremony took place ahead of the national awards which are being held in London on July 16 All of the West Midlands winners will now go through to the finals. Stephen Lilley, regional director of the National Apprenticeship Service, said: “The Apprenticeship Awards recognise and reward employers who are successfully using apprenticeships to improve performance They celebrate apprentices whose contribution has exceeded their employers’ expectations and those who have overcome difficulties to succeed in their apprenticeship.

This year’s winners of the West Midlands awards were: Young Apprentice of the Year – Laura Bannister from Birmingham, trainee hairdresser at Evolution, Castle Bromwich

Apprentice of the Year – Sophie Beard from Telford, Tenancy Support Officer at Telford and Wrekin Council

Advanced Apprentice of the Year – Stephanie Harrison from Wolverhampton, part of the Interconnect Service team at BT

Micro Employer of the Year (1 - 9 employees) – John Cliffe Building Services of Market Drayton.

Small Employer of the Year (10 – 49 employees) – Hendra Healthcare of Ludlow.

Large Employer of the Year (250 – 4,999 employees) – Special Metals Wiggin Ltd of Hereford.

Macro Employer of the Year (5000+ employees) – Telford and Wrekin Council.