‘Inspirational’ awards to recognise apprentices, schools, and employers that are responsible for guiding young people through the apprenticeship process
Nominations for the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2019 – the county’s premier awards celebrating the role of apprenticeships – have today (22 November) officially launched.
Entries for the third annual awards opened, as event organisers – the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) – announced the titles for each category, including the introduction of a new one.
Entrants can apply for several awards at the 2019 event, including Intermediate, Advanced and Higher Apprentice(s) of the Year, and the Special Recognition Award.
An additional award is being introduced to next year’s line-up; the Shining Star Award. This category recognises someone who has made outstanding progress in their career since completing their apprenticeship.
The 2019 awards will be held at Jurys Inn Oxford on 4 April – last year’s event was held at Blenheim Palace in Woodstock and attracted several hundred guests including apprentices, their businesses, plus many other employers from across Oxfordshire.
The overall winner of the 2018 awards was Katie Chegwin, a Business Administration Apprentice based at the University of Oxford – Katie also claimed the award for the Higher Apprentice of the Year.
The UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) will be the headline sponsor for next year’s awards. Its chief operating officer, David Martin – himself, a former apprentice – said: “UKAEA is proud to sponsor the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2019.
“Apprentices have always been a very important part of our strategy for training the next generation of engineers and technicians, and – more recently – many other business disciplines. The national focus on increasing and broadening apprenticeships, driven by Government policy, is a very welcome development and has allowed UKAEA to share its high-quality training programme with employers large or small via the new Oxfordshire Advanced Skills (OAS) facility at Culham Science Centre.
“We are passionate about quality skills training that matches the demands of the employer, is delivered in a workplace context, and sets young people on a fulfilling and rewarding career path – so, we are delighted to be associated with awards that showcase the high standard of training and the achievements of talented apprentices around the county.”
Nigel Tipple – Chief Executive of OxLEP – added: “Many young people and their families want to know whether an apprenticeship is a viable option, when making their first career step. The Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards act as an opportunity for us not only to commend the outstanding work of apprentices and their employers in the county, but to promote the value of such experiences.
“I would urge any business who has an inspirable story to tell, or an apprentice whose above-and-beyond attitude deserves recognition, to put themselves forward for one of the award categories that has been announced today”.
OxLEP is still looking to secure further sponsors for the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards, including some award categories. For more details, please email: skills@oxfordshirelep.com.
Make your nomination via the Oxfordshire Apprenticeships website
The full-list of awards are as follows:
- Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award
- Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award
- Higher Apprentice of the Year Award
- Special Recognition Award
- Shining Star Award
- Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award (less than 50 employees)
- Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Award (more than 50 employees)
- School Award (chosen by CEC)
- Apprenticeship Ambassador Award (chosen by OxLEP)
- Apprentice of the Year Award (chosen by UKAEA)
