The sixth annual Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards will once again shine a spotlight on our county’s apprentices - and the businesses and organisations, training providers and schools that support their journey - recognising the huge contribution they make to our county’s economy at a live virtual ceremony on Thursday 19 May 2022.
We're delighted to introduce Oxford North as sponsor of the Apprenticeship Employer (<250 employees) Award. Oxford North will be a thriving and vibrant life sciences district, with innovation and sustainability at its heart.
Here, Olivia Lane-Nott (pictured), who heads up Corporate Communications at Oxford North, explains why they have chosen to sponsor this Award and what apprenticeships mean to them.
Why are you supporting the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards and why you have chosen to sponsor your particular category?
This is our first year supporting the Awards and we couldn’t be more excited.
We are creating a new place for Oxford which will be a unique home and workplace for scientists, technologists and inventors.
We are building shared workspaces for freelancers, start-ups and entrepreneurs, along with labs and workspaces for SMEs to incubate and grow, up to global organisations looking to thrive within Oxford’s commercial ecosystem.
Key to this is our future customers’ talent, not only providing them with a place which helps them to retain the people who already work for them, but also attract future talent.
Apprentices play a significant role in such businesses and their future – anyone who is willing, able and keen to learn a new skill can enjoy hands-on experience of industry.
We are supporting the Awards because we have a passionate belief in the value that apprenticeships can create in increasing social mobility and supporting business to grow.
We’re proud to be supporting these awards to help celebrate those companies who are investing now in future talent.
What are you looking for in the winner of your category?
It would be great to see a clear picture of what that company has done to support their apprentice/s in terms of their contribution, integration within the wider company, training and future career path and any celebration of their involvement and success and how the employer has gone the extra mile.
Comments from not only the apprentice but also their line manager and peers would be useful to see too.
We would want the winner to be a positive role model that will inspire other individuals and companies to take a similar approach.
What would you say to anyone thinking about entering or nominating?
Definitely enter! It’s a chance to showcase the work you have done to support the Oxfordshire apprenticeship experience.
Tell us about your organisation’s experience of Apprenticeships
We are fortunate to work with a team of master-planners and architects, landscape designers and consultants, many of whom support the Apprenticeship programme within their own organisations.
In discussion with Oxford City Council, Oxfordshire County Council, and OxLEP, we have in place an Oxford North Training, Employment and Business strategy.
As Oxford North’s construction continues, part of this plan is around engagement with our wider supply chain to maximise opportunities for local people by providing Apprenticeship opportunities for school leavers and graduate positions within the immediate phase of construction ie excavation and substructure works, fit out works, landscaping, green skills and much more.
As the project continues there will be further apprenticeship opportunities available, and we are putting together an engagement plan to liaise with schools, colleges and universities to help explain the range of exciting skills and careers available in the construction industry.
About the Awards
The awards are now closed. Finalists will be announced during Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (hashtag #OAHour) on Twitter @OxonApprentice from 13:00 on Thursday 14 April. Winners will be announced at a live virtual ceremony on Thursday 19 May 2022.
Visit our Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2022 page
If you would like the opportunity to support the Awards, please get in touch.
Join us for Oxfordshire Apprenticeships Hour (#OAHour) on Twitter @OxonApprentice from 13:00 every Thursday for latest on the Awards and join in the conversation using the hashtag #OAAwards2022.
