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Big celebrations for apprentices and businesses alike at annual Oxfordshire awards

May 18, 2024

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Apprentices businesseseducation providers and champions of apprenticeships – from right across the county – came together this evening (16 May) for this year’s Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awardsone of the leading annual business celebration events anywhere in the region.

The spectacular awards – now in its eighth year and organised by OxLEP Skills – saw close to 200 people come together at Williams Racing’s Experience Centre in Grove to celebrate all things apprenticeships. Many more joined the event via a live-stream hosted on OxLEP’s website.

Supported by a business-led committee the Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards aims to champion work-based learning excellence across a breadth of sectors. This yearthe event saw winners announced from 13 categories all of which it is hoped will act as a major inspiration to businesses encouraging them to explore what an apprentice could bring to their respective companies.

The headline sponsor for this year’s awards was Oxford North – other awards sponsors included Grundon Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust Blenheim & Pye Homes Milestone Infrastructure Abbott Diabetes Care IST INTECH Hill The Engineering Trust Oxford Professional Education Assure UK and Owen Mumford.

The awards were hosted by Simon Newton – Joint Managing Director of Darke & Taylor – and Sarah Jaycock Executive Director of High Spec Composites.

OxLEP also welcomed David Johnston OBE the MP for Wantage and Didcot and Minister for Children Families and Wellbeing. Mr Johnston gave an opening address at the event.

You can watch them again via the OxLEP YouTube channelor below.

 WATCH AGAIN: Oxfordshire Apprenticeship Awards 2024. 

Below is a full list of this year’s winners and highly-commended finalists:

Intermediate Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Grundon

Winner:

  • Joshua Jones Highways Operative Milestone Infrastructure

Highly commended:

  • Liv Chapman Apprentice Hairdresser Popham Hairdressing Ltd
  • Lucy Parsons Apprentice Finance and Accounting Technician University of Oxford

Advanced Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Winner:

  • Henry Fletcher Apprentice Carpenter Parker Turnbull Developments Limited

Highly commended:

  • Angel Branker Apprentice Laboratory Technician University of Oxford
  • Isaac Pylee Ground Operations Apprentice works for an airline

Higher Apprentice of the Year Award

Sponsored by Blenheim & Pye Homes

Winner:

  • Cecilia Sofia Badiale Architect Ridge and Partners LLP

Highly commended:

  • Thomas Renault Data and Performance Analyst Milestone Infrastructure
  • Aaron Robinson Rail Degree Apprentice Amey Consulting

Special Recognition Award

Sponsored by Milestone Infrastructure

Winner:

  • Anna Christopher Apprentice Business Administrator University of Oxford

Highly commended:

  • Jay Formento Ward Administrator Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • Jack Paviour Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team Oxfordshire County Council

Rising Star Award

Sponsored by Abbott Diabetes Care

Winner:

  • George Soanes Apprentice Laboratory Technician LTi Metaltech Ltd / Metaltest

Highly commended:

  • Gail Fennymore Rehabilitation Assistant Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust
  • Rhian Mayer Adult Mental Health Time and Recovery Support Worker Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust

Shining Star Award

Sponsored by IST INTECH

Winner:

  • Nairne Barker Strategic Apprenticeship Lead Oxfordshire County Council

Highly commended:

  • Jade Brooker Audit Manager / Practice Manager Assure UK
  • Daniel Reid Business and Programme Support Officer Oxfordshire County Council

Apprenticeship Ambassador Award

Sponsored by Hill

Finalists:

  • Grace Dawson EPA Coordinator Explosive Learning Solutions

Highly commended:

  • Max Evans Apprentice Recruitment Assistant University of Oxford
  • Jack Paviour Administrative Officer – Digital Infrastructure Team Oxfordshire County Council

Careers Champion Award

Sponsored by The Engineering Trust

Winner:

  • Hannah Gordon Careers Leader Fitzwaryn School

Highly commended:

  • Hayley LaughlinPost-14 Lead Bardwell School
  • Jessica Manns Careers Lead Subject Lead of History & Humanities Teacher Greyfriars Catholic School

Inspiring the Future Award

Sponsored by Oxford Professional Education

Winner:

  • Abbott Diabetes Care

Highly commended:

  • Oxford Playhouse Trust
  • Morgan Sindall Construction

Training Provider Individual Award

Sponsored by NielsenIQ

Winner:

  • Mark Dickson Apprentice Trainer MTC Training Ltd

Highly commended:

  • Heidi Silvester College Director / Tutor / Assessor